January 2023

Liz: Alexa Clark, Sam Bell, Kaelin Pitner, and I drove up to the mountains to ski with our friends Drew Crawford, Ellis Carlson, and their roommate Daniel Dougherty. The boys had joked previously about setting me up with this roommate of theirs but I thought nothing of it. I only had eyes for the snow.

Dan: Just another ski day with my roommates Drew and Ellis. We hit Lookout Pass and were skiing hard. Some of their friends were skiing too and I met this lady named Liz. She was a phenomenal skier, and we all worked the mountain hard that day. I was focused on not falling, so she was not in my radar.

January 2023 - November 2023


Liz started working at Deaconess Emergency Department (ED) as a RN and Dan was working for AMR as an EMT transporting patients to local emergency departments. We saw each other occasionally and spoke to each other when we did. It was fun to recognize someone at work!

November 2023

Dan started working for Deaconess ED as an ER Tech to gain a more diverse medical background while deciding PA or MD route. We worked along side one another for six months becoming better friends in that time seeing the heaviness and hilarity of the ER. We had opportunities to see each other share the Gospel with co-workers, to pray with patients, and to have our character and patience tested in the wide variety of difficulties that an ER provides. For both of us, this was an incredible opportunity to see the other person’s character in the midst of tough things. We saw faithfulness to the Lord, dependence on Him, and evident obedience in the other person. This was fertile ground for a growing friendship and in seeing the high standard and quality in each other.

May 2024

Dan: I had been interested, asking for some counsel of guys, and praying about asking Liz out since early March 2024. I had been able to see her outside of work many times in group settings and had really enjoyed what I had seen. May rolled around and I decided to pull the trigger. May 6th we both had the day off. I rolled by her house in the afternoon and there was no answer at the door. Texted her later in the evening after I had an event finish to see if she was home and if I could stop by. She said that was fine. I rolled in and knocked on the door. She answered asked, “Is everything okay, what’s up?” I said, “Yeah everything is great, I wanted to come by and ask if I could take you out on a date sometime next week.” She looked shocked, but said "Yes of course!"

Liz: May 6th at 9pm Daniel was the last person I expected to see a text from, let alone him asking if he could stop by my house that night. My heart rate was through the roof as I was trying to think of all the reasons why he wanted to come over. I don’t remember the details of the conversation as I blacked out but I was left filled with joy and giddiness over the idea of going on a date with Dan. I had previously contemplated the idea of dating Daniel as he so clearly loves the Lord, is kind to everyone he is around, and enjoys similar activities. I was doubtful it would ever happen because he is so, so good, and I did not think I’d ever be lucky enough to hold his attention.

May - November 2024

Our official first date was an epic twelve hour adventure! We drove to the Coeur D’ Lane River and did a seven mile hike in the beautiful Idaho pan-handle. If you know Daniel and you know the CDA River, then you know that it would be impossible to be up there and not fly-fish. Dan had brought two rods and all the gear necessary, so he taught Liz how to fly-fish! She got big cut-throat on her first day!

The summer and fall were much the same. We had similar work schedules and consequently similar time off together. We were unsatisfied with the idea of a 'date', so we had weekly date days instead. We hiked, paddle-boarded, fished, spent time with friends, met family, made new friends, attended weddings, etc. In August, Dan went to Tenerife for the fifth time, leaving the states for three weeks. Liz was working hard at Deaconess and training to climb Mt. Rainier for her birthday in late August. This was a testing time. Would absence make the heart grow fonder or would it be a more out-of-sight, out-of-mind thing? Hearts grew fonder! We were so excited to see each other and be back together in person. We had an amazing weekend in McCall with some good friends and a few weeks later were in Mukilteo to spend some time with Liz’ family.

Dan: After getting back from Tenerife and missing Liz a ton, a lot of my thoughts and direction for the relationship were confirmed even more. I wanted to move forward. We had discussed a general timeline in late July for how we thought the relationship would progress. We both had the conviction that dating is for marriage and that we wouldn’t date someone we didn’t think we could one day marry, so that discussion was on the table. I had been continuing to get counsel and wisdom from the men at my church who mentor me and through some steps, prayer, and coming to deeper biblical conclusions on what a man of God is, and what a woman of God is, I decided to ask Liz to marry me. But I had something to do first: In Mukilteo, Sunday September 29th, I was out on the Puget Sound with Liz’ dad, Brent, and her brother, Matthew, fishing for silver salmon. I asked them if I could propose to Liz and they were so excited. It was a big step, I was hit with the reality that, “Woaw this is real.” Later that week I told Liz to send me some specs for ring options and she said “What?!? Why all of a sudden now?” I told her I had asked her dad if I could propose and she was shocked to silence (I may have called her on the phone, instead of telling her that in person). She sent me the specs, I ordered the ring on October 14th, it arrived November 2nd, and November 5th, as we were on a walk around the Spokane River near Boulder Beach, I got down on a knee and asked Elizabeth Thayer to marry me. I was so, so excited to do this, I had no doubt in my mind. It was a super special moment for us and we had such a blast telling all of our friends and family that day!

Liz: During our time apart it became clear to me that I loved Dan and was looking forward to growing closer and moving toward marriage. Being with Dan had been so easy, even in the tough. He brought me joy, confidence, and helped me grow spiritually. In conversations we had about getting married, I was able to envision it with ease. I had no doubt that I wanted to marry him. When we went to Mukilteo to visit my family, I was clueless to the fact that Dan had a conversation with my Dad and brother about proposing. When he called me the next week asking me to pick out a ring, mentioning nonchalantly that he talked to my dad, I was 100% speechless. I was left surprised that that conversation took place and that we were really moving forward with this marriage thing, but confident in the direction. After sharing ring preferences, I was in the loop that Dan had purchased a ring. He explained that it was going to be custom made but it was going to take longer than he had originally planned- I was anticipating early December. November 5th rolled around and I was experiencing an allergic reaction that made me lethargic, so I canceled our date day plan of hiking a mountain. Instead, we laid low all morning before Dan convinced me to go for a walk. At the end of the walk, Dan read me a hand written letter followed by him getting down on one knee and asking me to marry him. It was the easiest yes of my life!

We believe that marriage is made by God and it is a reflection of Christ's love and sacrifice for his church. We are so excited about following this model of marriage. We are convinced that through the good, hard, fun, and slow, we not only want to do it together but are better together than apart.