Sadie's Perspective: The first time I met Nick was in sophomore biology, building macromolecule models together. I immediately thought he was funny and handsome. We hung out in the same friend group and spent a lot of time getting to know each other.

Soon, we started spending time together alone. We would go out on dates to Island Park in Rock Rapids, ride around gravels in an old, beat up jeep, go stargazing, go to the drive-in movie theater, etc. We began dating on April 11, 2017, during my junior year of high school.

During the next six years, we continued to grow closer as we navigated life together, his family becoming my family, my family becoming his.

Fast forward to November 19, 2023. After Sunday dinner, Nick knew I wanted to put up my Christmas tree. He hauled the box upstairs and began putting the base together, telling me to fluff the branches. As I pulled out branches, I realized there was an unfamiliar, small blue box. As I turned back to Nick, confused, he was already down on his knee. He proposed, and of course, I said yes.

As I use the same macromolecule models to teach each year that we used so long ago, I can't help but smile at how far we've come. We are elated to begin this new chapter together and we can't wait to see where God takes us.