Lacey's Story: Cody and I met while working at a grocery store at the age of 15. We were secretly meant to be high school sweethearts but started officially dating at the age of 19 right before Cody left for college at Whitworth University. I remember looking at Cody during work and thinking if I could end up with someone like him I would be the luckiest girl in the world. I admired the way he treated others with his warm heart and smile. He showed qualities of that "football player boyfriend" that Taylor Swift sings about. He is witty, and flirty, with teddy bear-like features, but also kind-hearted and respectful. A week before Cody left for college, I felt this heartbreak that I wouldn’t have my work buddy around. I think at this moment I started to realize that I had deeper feelings than just friendship. After he left for school Cody and I ended up being on phone calls for hours making weekend plans. Then those plans became weekday plans meeting halfway in Spokane. I soon realized that these were pretty much dates, but I was desperately trying to deny that in my mind. I don't know why. He was everything I ever wanted, maybe I was a little scared that this was actually happening. I remember my mom telling me that I should go on a date with him. I took my dad to one of his football games and he, Rana, and Zach tailgated. I remember trying to pinch myself thinking it was a dream. I remember seeing Cody look up me in the stands and smile and my heart kinda melted. A few weeks passed with more games, dinners, and hikes and I found myself falling in love in the fall.

Cody supported me through a 5-year architecture degree which took a lot of patience and extra support on his end all while being in a long-distance relationship once again. He stayed up late with me while I did homework, cooked me dinner, and kept me company in Moscow. We fell asleep on the phone EVERY night together. I dragged him to frat parties and concerts, ate a lot of Mac and Cheese at the food truck, and steelhead fished with our friends.

The biggest strength Cody has is his compassion and support as stated above. That was really shown when I was diagnosed with stage 4 endometriosis. I thought I might lose my partner to this disease because of all the terrible trials it weighs on a relationship, especially as a young couple. But once again I was proven wrong by life and Cody was there every step of the way through the heartbreak and pain. Cody never left my side or stopped holding my hand in that hospital for 3 days straight. He walked me around with my incontinence diaper and catheter for a week. I knew I hit rock bottom at 22 but this guy just kept sticking around. I would like to say I continue to fight endo every day but its more so “we fight this disease every day together”. This is what truly makes me the luckiest girl in the world, to have someone give me the best comfort when I am sick.

Last winter Cody popped a question I have dreamt of for a long time. The amount of overwhelming joy I felt that I got to spend the rest of my life with my ultimate sidekick put me at so much peace. Cody pressured me to make the second-best decision in life and get a little puppy who now almost takes just as good care of me as he does.

When I sat down to write this, it was very humbling to take a step back and see how far we have come and all the adventures we have been through together big and small. I am so extremely lucky to call Cody my future husband <3

Cody's Story: It all started on a warm summer's evening, on a train bound for eternity at a little grocery store where I had just started my first actual job at the age of 15 where I learned that Uncle Sam likes your money as much as you do. My first day was nerve-wracking as any new job is but when I saw who the manager was going to have train me I was like oh my now I'm even more nervous. Trying to learn anything with a very attractive woman is impossible for a young man. Especially when it began to spark something amazing. The following years working together and seeing each other in school created a connection that would continue to grow and strengthen as time progressed. The last piece of the puzzle that was needed for our paths to merge was that I was about to leave for college at Whitworth University. Lacey began to miss her new best friend, so long late night phone calls and snap chatting and texting started and built our friendship into a love story. Lacey came to almost all of my football games and we enjoyed weekends together after the games. I decided after the semester to end my football career and move back home and continue my education elsewhere. In the following winter I decided to man up and make our relationship official and to the next step. BEST DECISION EVER!!! Lacey's response was yes just incase you are wondering and makes sense she said yes because now we are getting married!!! My love for Lacey continued to grow through all of the good times and all of the bad times. Seeing the love of my life have to go through multiple surgeries for an absolutely terrible and pathetically researched disease hurt my heart and I could see it hurt hers as well. I stuck right by Lacey's side helping her walk and heal while carrying a catheter bag. If that isn't love I don't know what is. The thing I love the most about our story is us introducing each other to different lifestyles. Lacey took me to my first concert and I took lacey on her first hunting and fishing trip. Pretty big difference huh? After years of countless fun and memories I decided it was about time to pop the big question. Lacey is not the biggest fan of the cold and if you know how it is to be steelhead fishing in Idaho in December, well then you know you can't feel your face. I won't tell you what she said when I asked the question but I think we can all figure it out. I knew that if we were doing something that wasn't a number one choice in Lacey's hobby book in the freezing cold then I would get the most honest answer. So here we are getting so incredibly excited to make our love for each other forever official. <3