**Written from Sam's perspective

It was 2014 and I was attending WSU, but home for the summer. I was looking for a summer job and ended up getting offered a job at Dick's Sporting Goods, which happened to be where Kevin had been working. At first, I didn’t realize Kevin liked me, but I later learned he was flirting ;). Both Kevin and I were cashiers and often had the same shifts. Every time there was a customer, Kevin would be off helping his coworker and friend Andrew “recover golf" which really meant they were practicing their golf swings in the simulator and having a fun time. Over time, Kevin started to show his sweet side. He’d make jokes, which led to us talking more, getting to know each other better and ultimately liking one another. Unfortunately, summer was coming to a close and I’d be off to school again.

When I came back in town again for winter break of 2014, I picked up some holiday shifts at Dick’s and Kevin asked me on our first date. We went to see the most romantic movie….Unbroken. Despite the intense movie, we still ended the night with an awkward first kiss (for some of you, you’ve heard the story and know why I said awkward haha). I was leaving back to school in less than a week, so “our relationship” was at a standstill.

After my last half of the school year, I returned again to work at Dick's for the summer of 2015, which led to us talking once again, getting a do-over first date which was amazing, spending the whole summer dating and having fun.

On the day I was leaving back to school for my Junior year, Kevin planned to ask me to be his girlfriend. We were watching a movie and Kevin’s heart was beating so fast, I thought something was seriously wrong. I asked him if he was okay to which he smiled and asked me to be his girlfriend. I, of course, said yes otherwise there would be no story to tell :) He said he was just very nervous that I would say no. And so began our four year long distance relationship.

Over the next two years, we both put in the effort to see one another frequently, always chatting on the phone, and making each other a priority. We had a lot of fun memories going on sorority date dashes, football games, me coming home to spend time with friends and family, etc.

When I graduated in 2017, I was stoked to come home and finally be in the same place as my boyfriend of two years for the first time. However, Kevin loved WSU so much he wanted to finish out his undergraduate there. While it was bittersweet, we both couldn’t have been happier to share an alma mater and our love for the cougs! I knew the overwhelming joy of being a part of that community and was excited for Kevin to experience it firsthand. We always said to each other we had our whole lives to be together and never wanted either of us to turn down opportunities or dreams that we had just to live closer to one another sooner.

The next couple years, we continued to visit one another as often as we could and I got spoiled with more Pullman time with Kev. He then graduated in December, 2019 with his Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. He came back home and after four years, we were finally in the same spot for the first time in our relationship for more than a summer break.

For months, we spent a ton of quality time together just enjoying being in one another’s presence before finally buying our first home and moving in together. We have now lived together for three years, spent time together remodeling our home, and building a life together. For those that know us, our family and friends are a huge part of our lives. We have two lovely nieces and a nephew (Ada, Lacey, and Jackson) that we love dearly and spend as much time as we can with them. Jackson coined the nickname "Uncle Kebbie" which has caught on amongst a lot of family and close friends and he will now forever be Kebbie to many lol

Then in October of 2022, the very long awaited proposal took place at The Beach House Restaurant in Kauai at sunset with my parents and Grandma. It was such a beautiful proposal and so meaningful as Kevin & I had spent time there the year prior and the beautiful scenery is an added bonus.

We have now been together for over 8 years and it will be just shy of 9 when we get married this summer. Kevin and I have known we’ve wanted to spend our lives together for years now and in many ways we’re already living as though we’ve been married and have that commitment to one another. Often times we hear we’ve done things backwards, but that’s just our journey. I think it’s safe to say we’re excited to make it official and celebrate with all of our closest friends and family!

Love you all and can’t wait to see everyone on 7.27!