Our story began at Hope College in Holland, Michigan – a quaint little town in West Michigan whose namesake can be traced back to a Medieval Dutch fishing village. It was there, in October 2015, during the Nykerk Song Competition at Hope College, that we first crossed paths and struck up an effortless friendship. Our friendship grew stronger throughout the fall, and by wintertime, had evolved into something more. We thought this evolution subtle – much to our friends’ amusement who were wondering why we weren't a couple already – and by Valentine's Day of 2016, we were finally officially dating. The start of our story doesn't hinge on a single grandiose action or opulent event; instead, it's the charm of countless simple moments that makes it special. Our love grew in the little things over time – the shared looks, the unspoken understanding, and the warmth of our conversations. As we gradually uncovered the depths of each other's personalities, our affection grew with unwavering certainty. And that is the story of how we discovered a deep, enduring love that will last a lifetime over.

OUR "DATING ANNIVERSARY" IS FEBRUARY 12TH. TO CELEBRATE OUR 7 YEARS TOGETHER, WE PLANNED A FUN DATE NIGHT AND WEEKEND IN DETROIT OVER THE WEEKEND OF FEBRUARY 25, 2023. THE FRIDAY BEFORE, MIKE DECIDED TO GO INTO DETROIT TO MAKE RESTAURANT RESERVATIONS. I DIDN’T THINK MUCH OF THE FACT OF HOW MUCH TIME AND OUT OF THE WAY THIS ERRAND WAS FOR HIM. I APPRECIATED HIS EFFORTS AND WAITED FOR HIM TO COME HOME FROM HIS ADVENTURE (WHICH APPARENTLY WAS DONE VIA MOTOR SCOOTER). THE NEXT DAY, FEBRUARY 25TH, WE STARTED TO GET DRESSED UP TO GO INTO DETROIT IN THE LATE AFTERNOON. MIKE SEEMED A BIT “OFF”. HE CHANGED HIS SHIRT MULTIPLE TIMES, PACED THE APARTMENT, WAS ON HIS PHONE A LOT, AND TOLD ME WE WERE MEETING HIS PARENTS AT CRANBROOK GARDENS TO WALK AROUND AND HAVE THEM TAKE NICE PHOTOS OF US. THE ADDITIONAL PLAN STUMPED ME, BUT I WAS JUST GOING TO ROLL WITH IT AS I DO ENJOY OUR WALKS AT CRANBROOK. IT WAS 20 DEGREES OUTSIDE AND SOME REMAINING SNOW WAS PRESENT WHICH INCLUDED ICE. LET ME TELL YOU, MIKE WAS TAKING ME ON A WEIRD ROUTE THROUGH THE WOODS (NOT ON A PATH), THAT WAS ICY AND FULL OF TREE ROOTS. I WAS GENUINELY CONCERNED FOR MY PERSONAL WELL-BEING (AND MIKE’S SANITY). EVENTUALLY, WE MADE IT TO OUR FAVORITE RED BRIDGE IN THE JAPANESE GARDEN, AND MIKE TOLD ME TO “TURN AROUND AND LOOK OVER THERE”. I CAN’T LIE, I BLANKED AND DIDN’T REALIZE WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THIS MOMENT. WHEN I TURNED BACK AROUND, MIKE WAS DOWN ON ONE KNEE AND ASKED ME TO MARRY HIM. WHEN MIKE WAS PUTTING THE RING ON MY FINGER, I TOOK THIS VERY SERIOUSLY AS WE WERE ON A BRIDGE WHICH CLEARLY HAD GAPS IN THE FLOORBOARDS WITH A STREAM RUNNING BENEATH. WHAT COULD GO WRONG? MY CONCERN SUBSIDED AS WE HEARD “WOO-HOO’S” RESONATING FROM THE TREES AND FAMILIAR PEOPLE EMERGING. TURNS OUT, MY PARENTS, MY BROTHER CONNOR AND HIS GIRLFRIEND, MY BEST FRIEND RACHEL AND HER BOYFRIEND, AND MIKE’S PARENTS TRAVELED IN FOR THE PROPOSAL AND COMPLETELY SURPRISED ME. AFTER A LOVELY DINNER AND VENTURING INTO DETROIT, THE EVENING CONTINUED WITH MORE FUN SURPRISES INCLUDING THE APPEARANCE OF MORE SPECIAL FRIENDS FROM NEAR AND FAR. IT COULDN’T HAVE BEEN A MORE PERFECT NIGHT. :-)