We met in the spring of 2023 at our church in Ames, IA.
Both working at the church, we shared many hallway hellos.
Wednesday mornings quickly became a meaningful part of our story.
Each week, Jesse would be gathering tech equipment for upcoming events,
while Claire was setting up the room.
It didn’t take long to realize how much we enjoyed talking with each other —
about everything and anything.

It wasn’t until the winter of 2023, while preparing for a church Christmas event,
that things began to feel different between us.
Shortly after, Claire had a dream that she asked Jesse out.

In March 2024, Claire made that dream a reality,
inviting Jesse to go hiking — right there in the same room where our friendship had grown.
That weekend, we hiked at Ledges State Park.

About a month into dating, Claire revealed the rest of the dream:
They got married.

Fast forward one year…

Jesse knew it was time to bring that second part of the dream to life.
On April 25, 2025, surrounded by Claire’s favorite plant — the fiddle-leaf fig —
Jesse got down on one knee and asked Claire to marry him.
She said yes!