Hello! It's Emma!

I'd love to share our story with you! :)

Gabriel and I met at the end of our Sophomore year (Spring 2019). We were playing ultimate frisbee with some friends from Salt Company on central campus of Iowa State. The cute, athletic blonde caught my eye. I hadn't seen him around before! I kept running into this cute blonde on campus. Eventually, we got enough courage to start studying together, which led to walks around campus, talking, until 2 am.

Gabriel went on a mission trip overseas to Asia a few weeks after we met. I had only just met him but I couldn't wait for him to come back, and I spent most of my summer daydreaming, wondering if we would ever amount to anything. I realized I had never had such a big crush! Then, one night, he called me from Asia! I was ecstatic! Maybe there was hope after all. He got one hour every few weeks. I would count down the days. I couldn't wait to get to know him better! One week, Gabriel admitted he had feelings for me. I was so stunned and elated I said... "Oh, thanks". That didn't quite live up to my daydreams. Whoops!

Once Gabriel arrived back in the states, we met at a café the very next morning. I was so overwhelmed with excitement. I realized it was so easy to talk to one another. That's something that has never changed. Talking is our favorite thing to do together!

Gabriel had a co-op in Missouri that coming fall. We started talking multiple hours every day on facetime. FINALLY, on October 5th, 2019 he asked me to be his girlfriend.

Gabriel and I started our adventures together: ordering lattes and "studying" (mostly talking hehe), hiking national parks, cooking, watching sunsets, biking, visiting family, lots of mancala games, kayaking, and most of the time... goofing off.

In the spring of 2021, we both graduated from Iowa State and got into graduate programs at the University of Iowa (Biomedical Engineering and Physician Assistant). We were so excited that our futures were putting us in the same city! With the move, there were a lot more daydreams of the future together, but nothing was certain. Then, on October 15th, 2021, Gabriel took me to Terry Trueblood in Iowa City to watch the sunset. There were candles on the patio, and our favorite song was playing. We were dancing, then Gabriel got down on one knee and asked me to marry him! Emma, daydreaming in the summer of 2019, would have LOVED this moment!! Emma in the fall of 2021 also loved this moment! :)

Gabriel and I are excited for another moment, July 16th, on that same patio, with all of you to celebrate as we make promises to each other before you and God above. :)