Our encounter took place during our time at Dakota Adventist Academy, a high school where Pam was in her freshman year and Nate, a junior, crossed paths. The picture we're holding was our very first banquet together.

From this very first note. At the academy, we have an activity called "Friday note night" where girls and boys would write notes to each other and send it across the dorms. This was the very first note I got from Nate. I remember screaming and smiling big in my room with my best friend. Ever since then we've never stopped hanging out!

For 14 years, we've had many meet-ups, flights, dealt with a 12-hour time difference, and relied on phone calls and heartfelt letters while missing each other everyday.

During the evening of December 31st, 2022, on a Thailand beach, Nate proposed just as the sun was setting, catching Pam completely by surprise.