They actually went to the same high school, but never seemed to cross paths.

In May of 2021, they graduated high school and moved on to Martin Luther College.

In August 2021, they met at the Freshmen Ballroom Blast, an event meant for the new students to meet each other and feel comfortable with their class. They hit it off right away and regularly hung out together. They became close friends.

By the end of 2022, they started to sense there was something more. They still were clueless about each other's feelings going into Christmas break, but there was an inkling. Elijah was talking to his family about his feelings as Julia was pushing her mom for advice.

By Christmas of 2022, they had plans to go on a date once they arrived on campus. They had their first coffee date soon after.

In January of 2023, they were official! They had known each other for so long at that point it felt like they had been dating forever. It felt natural.

On June 30, 2024, Elijah proposed to Julia!

Now here they are by God's grace :)