Everyone who knows me knows Riley. She’s been my favorite topic of conversation for the past 6 years or so. It has been my unique honor to introduce her to folks as my friend, girlfriend, and now, fiancée.

In 2017 we met on a mountain in Colorado. Our parents had each signed us up for the same teen-leadership bible camp. I was so impressed by her. She had bright eyes and a big heart. She's sharp as a tack and as sweet as there ever was. We called each other, mailed letters, and emailed constantly. As the next year went by, I fell in love with her spirit. And 18 months later I worked up the courage to ask her out. Of course, we couldn’t go out, I lived 4 states away, but we spent the following summer together and just about every following summer (not to mention holidays!)

I spent three years at University of Alaska in Fairbanks and she spent a year at University of Oklahoma. We both decided we wanted a change of scenery and I moved back down to Washington and she transferred to Hillsdale College in Michigan.

Fall of ‘22 I had picked out a ring. Spring through Summer I worked to afford it and soon I had a ring in hand and her parents’ blessing. I popped the question on July 23rd on the bank of the Columbia River and she asked what took me so long.

For us, these past few months have been brimful of joy. I moved across the country to a little apartment in Hillsdale, not too far from her dorm. She’s busy finishing her Physics degree and I got a job as a relationship banker at the local Old National branch. Riley often comes over to work on a math assignment, play a game, or to bake a batch of cookies. We have dance class on Monday nights; life is so full of precious moments.

~Daniel

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