Sophia and Max’s love story began in an unexpected way—through her friendship with his sister, Maddie. During their first year of teaching in Colorado Springs amid the chaos of the pandemic, Sophia and Maddie became close while sharing a tiny basement apartment. When Maddie later moved back to the Midwest to be with her now-husband, Tom, Sophia stayed in Colorado to continue her teaching career.

During Sophia’s second year of teaching in Denver, a random Instagram message from Maddie’s brother, Max, caught her attention. Out of a sense of politeness—because he was her best friend’s brother—she responded, planning to eventually stop. But she never did. Instead, their conversations deepened, and before long, she had fallen in love. They embarked on a long-distance relationship, with Sophia in Colorado and Max in North Dakota, but it didn’t take long for both of them to realize they wanted more than phone calls and visits. Sophia made the difficult decision to leave the life she had built in Colorado and move to the farm Max grew up on.

Adjusting to farm life was a challenge, but it became a new kind of adventure—one filled with love, hard work, and a future she hadn’t imagined for herself. In August 2024, on the last evening of summer vacation before Sophia returned for her fifth year of teaching, Max proposed during their evening walk to visit their Highland cows, Mabel and Chief, and check their garden. It was simple, unexpected, and absolutely perfect.

Now, in August 2025, they will elope in Colorado, a place that holds so much meaning for Sophia and for their journey as a couple.