We should have never met. In fact, 10 years ago, the likelihood that we would have ever crossed each other's paths would have been next to nothing. Although, God works in mysterious ways and His blessings can be well disguised...

Not all fairytales begin with "Once Upon a Time" or a damsel in distress. For us, our story began with a fated swipe and "match" on the well-known "lifestyle" app, called Tinder.

Over months of messaging and pun-filled jokes, Jean finally bribed Madison into meeting him in person with Linkin Park tickets at the Gorge Ampatheatre on September 13th, 2014.

In our first encounter, Madison distinctly remembers pulling up to Jean's apartment, seeing him walk out in a Batman t-shirt, and thinking, "what have I gotten myself into..."

Jean first memory is asking Madison if it would be alright to introduce her to his friends as "Priscilla" the hired escort he would be bringing to the concert. He later learned that Madison's grandmother was named Priscilla… (Hi Grandma!)

Madison moved to Seattle about 6 months after the two of us started dating, and over the course of the next three years, we became even more closely connected and saw both the best and worst in each other. Together, we have traveled the world and shared incredible experiences as a couple. From visiting Havasu Falls in Arizona, seeing the Sydney Opera House in Australia, celebrating Halloween in New Orleans, and "surviving" sickness in Mexico, the two of us have continued to grow closer to each other. Together, we've bought a house in Seattle, conquered the Tough Mudder (twice), formed new friendships, and adopted a kitty. Each step pushed us closer to each other, and it became apparent that being apart was something neither of us wanted.

It's important to note that our journey finding love was not easy. We faced challenges and trials together and often didn't share the same points of view. We faced the challenges of long-distance, differences in upbringings, having to establish new friends and having our own priorities. Learning to compromise and sacrifice on things that were important to each of us as individuals has tested us and presented us with many hurdles. However, despite our challenges and differences, we were always aligned on the fact that we were committed to working through our differences and finding common ground. We didn't fall in love, we grew in love.

It was important for us both to build a foundation together that served God and that had aligned on similar values and priorities. Although we had numerous conversations about our future together, when we visited Banff in October of 2016, we had the opportunity to complete a book called "101 questions to ask before you get engaged." It was at that point that our future together became even more clear and so the plotting began...

On September 9th, 2017, "E-Day" happened. Madison woke up at 5:30AM to her friend Alyssa entering her bedroom with coffee and breakfast; Jean was nowhere to be found. Instantly Madison thought "Oh no, this can't be happening today… she had work! Didn't he think about her work schedule?!" A few minutes later, she received a message from her manager asking her to take the day off and that work would be covered for the day. Alyssa handed Madison a wooden box that was filled with gold coins, plastic gems, and a mysterious poem suggesting that she solve the picture puzzle (also in the box) and follow her friends to the final destination. Both Alyssa and Madison then headed to the first destination which was the Edmonds Marina where she was greeted by the Captain of a boat called the Journey and good friend and mentor, Rick. Rick and his wife Evelyn ferried Madison and Alyssa to Kingston in a boat filled with Stargazer lilies, mimosas, and pink and gold streamers. Upon arriving at Kingston, Madison was met by her childhood friends DeeJay and Jared who had driven up from Portland the night earlier. Before departing, Alyssa handed Madison a second puzzle box which included more gold coins, a puzzle, and a riddle instructing her to summit Mt. Stormking at the Olympic peninsula. Despite less than ideal weather, the three climbed the hike and Madison received the third and final puzzle box which stated that Madison would need to meet Jean at the Lake Crescent Lodge dock. After descending, DeeJay and Jared took Madison to a nearby cabin which had clean clothes, makeup, and a dress and heels for her final task. Finally, that afternoon, with the help of his friend Alex, Jean was able to meet Madison on the dock of Lake Crescent Lodge. It was there that he asked her to help him complete their puzzle of life together and solve each other's challenges for eternity to come. It was there that Jean asked Madison to marry him.

The two of us are so excited for this next phase of our life and to embark on a journey no longer as two individuals but as one new family. After we get married, we pray that God continues to bless us with children someday and that we can continue to enjoy exploring the world together. We also hope to continue serving others and volunteering our time to help individuals grow in sports, schools, and programs that we are passionate about. We are so excited for our future together and we are so humbled to share the joining of our families with you! Each and every one of you has had an instrumental impact on one or both of our lives and we look forward to having you help us celebrate the fairy tale of Jean and Madison Blatchford!