Brandon and I met at my sister's grad party. I was going into 10th grade and he was going into 9th grade. I was there for the obvious reason, cake! (Just kidding, Sarah). He came along with his family, not really knowing who my sister was. We ended up hanging out in a group of friends and the first comment I made to him was that his eyes matched his shirt. He looked at me like I was crazy and didn't reply. However, from then on he flirted in the typical 9th grader way, making fun of my height and such. I knew it was meant to be.... sort of.

It was Northgate's beach day at Lake George and I came with my parents and Mel came with hers. Our friend, Dana Quaal was also there. We were the only ones close to our age so the three of us just were hanging out together. After spending all day together, I ended up asking Dana for Mel's number because I didn't want to ask her myself!

Our first date happened on February 20, 2012. Brandon wanted to take me to a movie and after I picked The Vow (total chick flick) as my movie of choice, he didn't even complain. After the movie was through, we decided we wanted to hang out a little longer. Neither of us having our licenses yet, we had to wait for a parent to come and pick us up. In the meantime, we strolled on over to Burger King where I was deceived into thinking we were both going to eat something. I ordered an ice cream cone and found a seat. After paying, Brandon joined me with absolutely nothing. There we were, me eating ice cream and Brandon watching me eat ice cream. It was awkward, but in a cute kind of way. Shannon arrived not long after that and we went back to his house. We talked about all sorts of things, and he even tried to get me to use a head scratching device, claiming it was amazing. I declined. Five o'clock came and my dad was there to pick me up. As I was walking upstairs, Brandon quickly called me back and officially asked me to be his girlfriend. Of course, I said yes. After I got in the car, I told my dad that Brandon and I were dating. He asked when the wedding would be...

Our first date was a going to a movie. I can't remember what movie, but I remember afterwards we went to Burger King to get ice cream. I didn't get any so I just watched her eat ice cream.

My favorite memory is when Brandon and I went to Duluth for the day. We left early in the morning and drove up to canal park. After walking around a little, we sat by the water and ate the lunch we had packed. We met a seagull named Bob and have video to prove it. From there, we went over to the Superior Zoo and paid $26 before we remembered the flood that had recently happened and that had killed 50% of their animals. We left there pretty quickly. We then went to Gooseberry Falls and it was beautiful! After doing lots of walking in our converse, we were ready to sit down. We went back to Duluth and ate at Grandmas, where Brandon got a disgusting dessert because the waiter practically forced him to. We were ready to leave, and after a quick tour of a Duluth neighborhood (we weren't lost of course), we headed home. We shared so many laughs during this day and still do when we look back on it.

My favorite memory of our relationship was our day trip to Duluth. It was the first time we did a "road trip" alone together and I loved it. I loved hanging out just the two of us and exploring places we haven't been.

What I love about Brandon is that he can be goofy and silly and that he doesn't let things bother him. He doesn't hold grudges or stay angry. He can make me laugh in just about any circumstance. He has brought out my silly side and the two of us can sit and talk about the sounds we think animals should make and laugh so hard together. He has taught me how to let go of things and how to be OK when the plans change (this is a work in progress still, but it is getting much better!). He is the most helpful person I have ever met and I am slowly learning from that too. What I love most about him, is that he loves Jesus too.

I don't even know where to begin, but I think what I love the most about Melissa is the joy she carries around with her wherever she goes. Her smile just brightens the room and you can see the love she has for God and everyone round her. The way she loves and cares for everyone is inspiring.

We had talked about marriage for quite a while before this happened. Brandon had let some things slip that I had picked up on and so I was thinking there was a chance the trip to Florida (which was on my birthday) would be the time it would happen. He kept telling me I couldn't have access to his phone because he had "plans" on there. My birthday was the first day we were in Universal Studios and Harry Potter world. Shannon had said I would feel like the most special person ever by the end of the day. I knew what was coming. Until I didn't. Dinner rolls around and SURPRISE! my parents are there to join us. THIS was the plan on Brandons phone, he said. THIS is why I would feel so special, Shannon said. Now, I love my parents very much and am so glad they came. But in the moment, I was feeling pretty stupid and wasn't very happy to see them. I talked to Brandon and explained what I had thought would happen and he told me he had a plan for that too. I basically asked what he was waiting for (a little dramatic, I know) and he told me to trust him. Well, after that, I was pretty convinced it wasn't going to happen on that trip. The next morning, Shannon told us we were going to do family pictures in front of the Harry Potter castle. My parents met us there again and so we all went that way. Once there, Shannon and Steve took a picture together and then it was our turn. As Brandon and I posed for the picture facing the castle, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. Of course I said yes! It was the best surprise that I thought I saw coming and then didn't see coming ever! It was perfect.

The proposal was very ... crazy from my point of view. During the planning process, there were a lot of different emotions, a lot of secrets to keep from Mel (which is extremely hard to pull off) and a lot of anxious moments. But there were also times like when I went to buy the ring and when I asked Craig and Mari for their blessing, when it was pure joy and excitement. The day I was going to propose was exciting to say the least. Without going through all the details, basically that morning we got to Universal Studios and my body felt almost numb. That feeling where you are just floating around. And we got to the front of the castle where I was actually going to propose and it just became so real. As soon as she said "yes", it went from heart pounding and hands shaking to just happiness. And for the next five days I don't think I stopped smiling.

I am looking forward to doing life together. I am excited to explore and go on trips together. To sit around and do nothing together. To eventually have kids (2-4 of them) and get a house and be parents together. To continue to grow in our faith and serve together. I am excited to know that this marriage will be forever and that it will be good, simply because we are together.

What I'm looking forward to in our future together is just doing life with each other. Becoming a new family is very exciting to me and being able to do day-to-day things with each other. I'm also looking forward to being able to travel together, go on vacations and other things like that.