Eli and I matched on a Christian dating app called Upward in August of 2022. After talking for about a month, Eli asked me on a date in late September when I came back to Monmouth for school. On our first date, we talked and walked around the Corvallis farmer's market for four hours. Our conversations came so effortlessly. We found a lot of things that we had in common, as well as things that were the total opposite from each other. We continued to go on dates and learn more about each other for two months. The more time that we spent together, it became clear how big Eli's heart was for God, his family, and the 80's. On November 14, 2022, Eli asked me to be his girlfriend at the top of a very snowy Mary's Peak in Corvallis. Dating Eli has been such a blessing and has brought me so much joy. I have treasured all of our beach trips, dinners cooked together, and time spent walking around Target. After dating for about ten months, Eli asked me to marry him on September 17, 2023 and of course I said yes!

-Olivia

I matched with Olivia on a Christian dating app in the late summer of 2022. We texted almost every day for around a month until I got the courage to ask her out on a date. Sometime in September, we went out on our first date to a Saturday market. We walked and talked for about four hours. We continued to go on more dates the next two months and the more I got to know her the more I understood I wanted her in my life. After understanding her passion and love for God and her family I knew she was a keeper. Her family and my obsession with the movie Nacho Libre, was for sure a sign. So, in November, I asked her to be my girlfriend up on Mary's Peak. Thankfully she said yes! About two months into dating, I knew she was the one I wanted to marry, but she didn’t know that. She became my best friend and no matter what we did we always had a good time. During the summer I saved up enough money to buy a ring and I proposed to Olivia on September 17th, 2023. After snapping out of her confusion and shock, she said yes!

-Eli