It all began with Erma. A bold and confident friend. She told Grace about a girl she met in her Economics class at CU Boulder, named Sarah.

Erma had also put in a good word for her roommate, Grace, to Sarah.

Conveniently, Erma invited Sarah to go tubing down Boulder Creek and to stop by her home beforehand.

Grace and Sarah first shook hands through Claire's bedroom window (Claire is Grace's twin). Sarah was on the front porch. Grace was preoccupied with a tetris-like reorganization of her closet-sized bedroom. A couple of weeks later, they met again when Erma invited Sarah back to her home for Court's going away party. Yes, Court is another dear friend and then-roommate! Introduce yourself to her! And Erma! (And Claire)!

They both felt that spark in the kitchen when Grace nervously offered Sarah the last drink. Shortly after, when the Boulder Police showed up in response to a noise complaint, Sarah quickly exited the premises. Grace thought she'd never see her again, so she immediately messaged Sarah from Erma's phone...multiple times...and Sarah returned. They continued to talk on the porch for hours. Grace HAD to walk Sarah home and share a story, something about Croatia. That walk home turned into Grace staying up with Sarah and her roommates, sipping coffee until 7 in the morning.

They soon moved into their little red corner apartment. Their first home together.

Followed by 5 years in Portland, Oregon.

And during this time, they planned a trip to visit Grace's oldest sister, Mary, and her husband, Kyle, at their home in Red Cliff, Colorado. The Christmas flight was canceled, due to a blizzard, and re-booked for New Years Eve. They got bumped up to First Class, where Sarah was called Mrs. France for the first time.

The morning of New Years Eve, Sarah remembers taking in every detail - the snowy walk down the old town road, what they were bundled in, making breakfast at Mary & Kyle's with the pups and newborn nephew, and Grace not eating breakfast (which is the most out-of-character part of this whole story). Later, Sarah would find out why as they ventured down the tracks on a family walk.

Grace proposed in 2022 on New Years Eve in Red Cliff, standing by the Queen Rocks at the top of the Rockies, surrounded by a few of the most important people in their lives, including their Wedding Officiant: Mary. Kyle took them on a celebratory snowmobile ride, where they spotted two female moose scaling the mountainside. The night ended with cozy cabin cooking, baking, and a fireworks show. When they returned to the Green Bridge Inn, "The One with the Proposal" episode of Friends was playing.

More recently, they moved to their new home in Chicago, Illinois and have been enjoying time spent with old friends, new friends & family.

And that brings us to their planned Wedding Day on Valentine's Day 2026; Presidents' Weekend. A celebration on the Big Island of Hawaii, where Grace and Sarah have been called to marry.

Only Love In & Only Love Out.