I moved up to Alaska the end of July in 2022. Brandon and I met within 2 months of me moving up here. We met online (hey Hinge, wanna sponsor our wedding)! Ironically, I matched with Brandon my very first day on Hinge. We talked for about 2 weeks before we went on our first date together. Brandon wanted to meet me after only talking for 1 day but I made him wait so I could check his criminal history and stalk his Facebook very thoroughly before agreeing to meet this online stranger. After he didn't give me any weird vibes and a clean background check came back, I agreed to finally meet up with him. I didn't follow any of the online dating rules because I gave him my address so he could pick me up for our first date and I allowed him to take me up a remote mountain pass with no service during a winter blizzard so we could go on a hike together that he planned. Thanks for not turning out to be a murderer Brandon! And for patiently waiting in your car 20 mins for me because I was too nervous to come outside and meet him.

Our first date was hiking Crow Pass during a snowstorm. Search and rescue was out looking for missing hikers when he pulled up to the trailhead. Brandon was so cute and would give me his hand to help me over all the stream crossings, but I would hold it for only .1 of a second and then throw it away quickly after. We talked the entire hike (despite both being extremely out of breath but trying to impress one another by not heavy breathing) and once we got to the top where the lake was at, the sun came out! We hit it off right away, both sharing a love for the outdoors and Alaska. It was truly a perfect first date. He's such an Alaskan and even brought bear sticks for me to try (a bear that he shot by the way- he's so cool). After he dropped me off, I texted him before he could even pull out of my driveway thanking him for a great day! We planned our second date that night.

Our second date was him inviting me over to his house to make me a brisket. I even ate the salad he made me (even though I hate salad) because I was too polite to tell him I don't like salad. We've come so far since then!

Our third date was taking the dogs out for a hike at North Fork in Eagle River. I got to show Brandon & Beau mine and Sadie's favorite trail!

Our fourth date was Brandon taking me out jet boating on his boat that he built himself! You better believe I told that fact to everyone. We boated up the 20 mile river in the rain but had the best day! I loved my first boat ride! I proceeded to brag to all my friends and family how cool of a guy he was after this date.

Our fifth date was canning salmon at his house where his dad ended up showing up so I met his dad before we had even hugged lol.

Our sixth date was walking the dogs after work at Barbara Falls. I had a slight direction mishap this hike but Brandon was so patient and didn't leave me in the woods even though he knew I was completely wrong on which direction the car was.

Our seventh date was boating up Knik River! It was an epic day boating up to Knik Glacier! The scenery was incredible! It was one of my favorite Alaskan adventures to date!

Our eighth date was having dinner with all his friends up at his house. I ended up staying up till 11pm visiting with him, which if you know me and my sleep schedule, says a lot that I was willing to miss my 9pm bedtime on a week night just to chat with this boy!

Our ninth date was a walk with the dogs at a lake in town. After 9 dates, Jordan decided he was hug worthy and finally gave him a hug.

Our tenth date was a Costco date and then he came over to cook me dinner.

After that date, he texted me asking me to be his girlfriend on October 29, 2022. I of course said yes even though he texted it to me right after seeing me instead of asking me in person!

The rest is history after that! Throughout the last 1.5 years, we've had so many adventures together from camping, hiking, boating, fishing, hunting, whale watching, cabin stays, skiing, snow-machining, ice skating, flight-seeing over Denali, Northern light hunting, going to the Iditarod together, looking for bears, kayaking, and 2 trips to Hawaii, & a trip to North Dakota. Everyday is an adventure living in Alaska! I feel so blessed to have found such an outdoorsy and adventurous guy to explore Alaska with!

In August of 2023, I got the boy that said "he would never move to the Valley" to move to the valley. Anchorage was way too big for this small town North Dakota girl. It meant the world to me that Brandon was willing to move out of the city for me. We've settled down in Palmer and love the quiet small town life that the Valley offers. The dogs love having a 2 acre yard to run around in and chase squirrels and bunnies on! We have the occasional moose come into our yard too.

It is only fitting that Brandon proposed on a hike up in the mountains. On March 19th, Brandon and I went on a hike after work up Lazy Mountain. I was in the middle of trial but I knew I had a feeling Brandon was going to be popping the question as he had been planning this hike for over a week. After climbing up to the top and while the sun was going down, Brandon got down on one knee and asked the question! (Well he didn't even get out the question because I started jumping up and down saying I knew he going to propose).

We both can't wait to start our forever together! Who knew when Sadie and I moved to Alaska "for just a year" we would meet our boys that we get to love forever so quickly & that Alaska would never be getting rid of us!