It all started the end of September 2019 when Zach came into the GC (a common space) at Oklahoma Baptist University while freshman Erica was playing cards with some of her friends. A friend introduced Zach to those who were playing cards and invited both groups of friends to go to Buffalo Wild Wings after Canterbury (a worship night at OBU). Zach and Erica sat across from each other and chatted the whole time.

Zach, after enjoying meeting Erica, prayed, "if this is supposed to work may I run into Erica more." The next morning both Zach and Erica were printing things off in the library, that afternoon Erica was playing walleyball and Zach was playing basketball in the RAWC. The following week Erica was invited to Zach's apartment to celebrate a friend's birthday, and they talked the entire time. The next day Zach invited Erica and some of her friends over for some leftover cake. Things started to progress a little bit further when Zach brought Erica no-bake cookies and told her he liked her and wanted to take her on a date. Towards the end of October Zach and Erica went to Tapatio for Mexican food on their first date.

On November 7, 2019 the boyfriend and girlfriend title was given. Zach and Erica went to Bricktown Brewery for lunch. After lunch they went to Zach's apartment for Erica to find a sweet surprise of flowers and cookies. The following week Zach's parents came to Shawnee to meet Erica. One weekend in early December, Erica went to Zach's home to watch the OU game and meet his sisters. Zach traveled to Colorado during Christmas break to meet Erica's family and to see mountains for the first time. In January, Zach went on a GO Trip, while Erica took a J-Term class. The two went with no communication for two weeks.

Oklahoma Baptist University announced on March 13, 2020 that students and faculty would not be returning to campus after spring break. Zach and Erica didn't know the next time they would see each other. They stayed connected through FaceTime. In June, Erica made a trip down to Oklahoma to visit. A few weeks later Zach came up to Colorado for a week. Throughout this time we calculated that we had spent more time long-distance than together. School started in early August, and Zach and Erica continued to find life was much better together.

Zach and Erica started to talk more about their future, whether they should get married while Erica is still in nursing school or wait until after graduation. Although no answer was going to be completely easy, both of them were ready to move forward. In May, after Zach graduated, Zach drove with Erica back to Colorado to ask for her Father's permission. Erica's dad gave the yes and kept reminding them that it's their story to write.

It was July 2021 and Zach was invited to attend the big Kovacik family reunion in Florida. Erica's family and Zach stayed in an Airbnb the first 2 days before heading to the resort with all the extended family. Those first few days were sweet as they swam in the rental house's pool, went to the Marlin's baseball game, and just relaxed. On Tuesday, Florida got a lot of rain from the hurricane. Zach asked Erica the day before they left for Florida if she would want to do a picnic with just the two of them on Tuesday night for dinner, and of course she said yes. Not wanting to get her hopes up too much, she kept telling herself that this was going to be the only alone time they would get on this trip and to just enjoy it. Erica's dad, Tom, started to grill steaks and she questioned if her parents knew they were going on a picnic. So, casually as Erica's mom, Casey, was in the kitchen making sweet potatoes and asparagus, Erica asked if it was okay that Zach and her had a picnic. Casey almost gave it away when she started to cry, but said yes. Zach and Erica got dressed and took their food to a nearby park that had a dock on a lake. They ate their dinner out on the dock and stood up to look out at the lake. Erica could tell that Zach was starting to get nervous when he started to shake. Zach, trying to waste time for her parents to be able to watch in the background, pointed to the different trees across the lake and asked, "which one is your favorite tree?" Erica knew something was up. Zach pulled out his phone and showed Erica a note from May 2019, before they had met, but about the same time Erica started to pray for her future husband. His note had said...

1. Find the most beautiful, Christlike girl you can find.

2. Date that girl.

and Erica watched him type...

3. Marry that girl.

Zach got down on one knee and asked Erica to marry him! Erica's family came down to take pictures and the family that was playing at the playground yelled, "congratulations!!" The moment was sweet and simple just how Erica had wanted. They FaceTimed Zach's parents shortly after to share the exciting news. Zach and Erica also made a plan to stay off their phones the rest of the night and to just enjoy keeping a secret between the two of them and their families. The following day they started to tell close friends and extended family that they were engaged! Now here's too forever! #ohmyevans