The Meet Cute

In July 2019, at the end of the first year at Bethel's school of ministry, Levi and Linnea met on the floor of Bethel's Twin View campus. Thinking nothing of it, they both went their separate ways. Not long after, they each ended up at Whiskey Town Lake through the invitation of some mutual friends. Levi told the group that he was going to a Gable Price and Friends backyard concert later that evening if anyone was interested in joining... Linnea certainly was! Not only was she excited about the backyard listening party, she was stoked to spend a bit more time with Levi. She showed up to the party and walked through the house to the backyard, she spotted Levi, and he welcomed her with a big smile and a hug. The warm summer night was perfect! Everyone was dancing and singing in the packed yard under glowy lights strung up in the trees.

After that, Levi and Linnea had hung out a few times with a group of their mutual friends to get ice cream at Taste and See and to go surfing in Santa Cruz. Nothing romantic ever came of those times together beyond one thinking the other was cute or cool. Linnea moved back home to Sacramento, and Levi stayed in Redding, ultimately completing the next two years of BSSM.

The Pursuit

Five short years later, Linnea was in her senior year of college at Point Loma Nazarene University studying Biology and Chemistry, and Levi was working as a police officer in Redding. They were 643 miles apart, but Levi decided to take a chance... so he decided to slide into Linnea's DMs. Upon receiving Levi's message, Linnea only thought he was an old friend catching up with her, as she had just redownloaded Instagram after fasting from it for a year. It soon became clear that Levi was putting out some feelers when he asked if she had any reason to be in Sacramento during the dates that he would be in town for SWAT training. She assured him that there was not a single reason for her to be in Northern California during that time and explained that her graduate school was also in San Diego and would take another 4.5 years to complete. To which he replied, "4.5 years!!!", convincing Linnea that she had successfully scared him off. But no, luckily, Levi is a man of perseverance and he loves a challenge, so he continued to message her out of the blue to strike up conversations. She would indulge with no real concern that this would lead anywhere. That was, until Levi asked if he could come down to see her on her Spring break in March. Feeling spontaneous and intrigued, Linnea agreed to let Levi come down only if he agreed to bring his dog (Jack). After working his night shift, he packed up the car, loaded up Jack, and drove 10 hours through the night to San Diego.

The San Diego visit was short but sweet. Levi and Linnea got breakfast and coffee at Drift Cafe, and then Linnea showed him around PLNU and Sunset Cliffs. Levi refused to waste any time sleeping, even though he had pulled an all-nighter to make the trek to see her, so they continued their day, taking a walk on the Pacific Beach pier and then stopped for street tacos. The next day they hit a workout together and drank smoothies at a park that overlooked San Diego before parting ways.

Levi was certain he wanted to date Linnea, but Linnea was still unsure if she wanted to make it official with Levi. But, it just so happened that Linnea's friend was having a bridal shower in Redding on Easter weekend. She decided to go up to Redding to attend the shower, and go to Bethel's Easter service…and to spend a little more time with Levi! After that weekend, she was sold. Levi proved himself to be a thoughtful, fun, emotionally intelligent, and respectful man. The weekend felt too short ,but Linnea was very excited about her future with Levi, as she flew back to San Diego.

Making It Official

Levi went off to SWAT training in Sacramento and Linnea finished up her last month of her senior year. After graduation, Levi came down and asked Linnea to be his girlfriend at Lover's Cove on Catalina Island! They spent the day in the sun exploring the island and headed back to San Diego in pure bliss.

Throughout the summer, Linnea and Levi took turns visiting one another. From Padres baseball games, beach days, celebrating both of their birthdays, getting to know one another's family and friends, coffee dates, sushi dates, and watching the sunset, they grew closer and their love became deeper. It quickly became clear to the both of them that this was the person that God had fashioned for them. They were compatible and complimentary to one another. From surface level things, like enjoying the same food and hobbies, to the more substantial things, like having the same life goal of owning land and raising a family, they knew they were meant for each other.

The Proposal

On November 23, 2024, Levi told Linnea they were going on a double date to go pheasant hunting. He woke up sick that morning, so Linnea ran to Sprouts to get some holistic medicine for him. She asked him multiple times if he was absolutely sure that he wanted to go out in the cold and hunt when he was clearly ill. He insisted and somehow she did not have even the slightest suspicion that he may be proposing. She didn't even question it when Levi asked if she wanted to “get ready”, she simply said that she already was ready (wearing only tinted sunscreen and mascara with unbrushed hair).

On their drive up, Levi and Linnea drove under a giant rainbow stretching from one forested hill top to the next. They arrived to Shasta Trinity National Forrest, and even though it had been pouring rain all week and Shasta got 23 inches of snow, the sky was clear and the air was crisp. Levi's friends Trent and Hannah had not arrived for the double date yet, so Levi suggested warming up Jack and letting him run around for a bit. They slowly meandered behind Jack while he happily pranced through the brush. As they walked, they stumbled upon a field with a blanket, fluffy pillows, champagne, and glowy lanterns. Levi led a very shocked Linnea over to the set up and he got down on one knee and said,

“Linnea, on this day 30 years ago, your dad got down on one knee and proposed to your mom. I love you and I cannot live without you, will you marry me?”

Linnea was extremely surprised and overjoyed! She said yes and kissed Levi. Just when she thought that the moment couldn't be more perfect, Levi pointed out her two brothers, her mom, and his mom were also there capturing the moment! Linnea was moved to tears and was so full of joy that she would not only get to spend the rest of her life with Levi, but that her family was there to celebrate with them both. It was an incredibly special day that was closed out by a beautiful engagement celebration with all local friends and family.

While it may seem like this has been a long story already, it is only the first chapter of Levi and Linnea's beautiful love story.