Our story begins on New Year’s Day in Traverse City, surrounded by snow, laughter, and great friends.

Sam, ever the social butterfly, swept into the house ready for fun. Jason, on the other hand, was doing his best impression of a polite houseplant—quiet, observant, and unsure how he got there. As the night went on, Sam spotted Jason hovering on the couch like a lost tourist. Naturally, she dragged him—gently but with purpose—into a game.

Within an hour, Jason was fast asleep on the couch.

In his defense, it was a long drive, the game rules were confusing, and he didn’t know he was meeting his future wife that night.

The next time they saw each other was at the kickoff of an annual ski trip with friends. Romantic snow-covered mountains! Cozy cabins! Perfect setting for sparks to fly, right? Well… not quite. We barely spoke. (We’d like to say it was because of the icy conditions, but honestly, we were both just a little awkward.)

It wasn’t until the next ski trip, that something shifted. Maybe it was the altitude. Maybe it was fate. Or maybe Jason finally realized, “Hey… she’s really cool. And she hasn’t made me play any weird games this time.”

So, Jason asked Sam on a date. She said yes. And just like that, history began to pick up speed.

We went from ski trips and group hangs to late-night talks, spontaneous adventures, and shared breakfasts that turned into shared lives. Somewhere along the way, we found in each other a best friend, a teammate, and a love worth holding on to—even if it took a few years, a few games, and a very well-timed nap to get there.