We met on a blind, double date. Jacob's wrestling teammate, Wyatt, really liked Stacy's best friend from Biola, Kaitlin. Wyatt asked Kaitlin on a date, but she only agreed if it was a double date. So, Jacob and Stacy both got dragged along. But that's not where our love story began. Stacy and Kaitlin went back to Biola and Jacob didn't even ask for Stacy's number. Three years later, Kaitlin and Wyatt went out again, and pretty soon after, Kaitlin started urging Stacy to go out with Jacob again. Stacy reluctantly agreed with the understanding they wouldn't make it seem like she was super interested. Despite that "pact," Katlin immediately started texting Jacob saying Stacy was asking about him, and Stacy was being fed similar news about Jacob. Thankfully, they broke our little pact, because a year later, we are getting married! And by the way, Kaitlin and Wyatt are married now too(wohoo!). We are now double date partners for life.

Stacy has a book called "The Adventure Challenge" that has a bunch of different date ideas. There was one that required us to go the store and pick out the perfect candle, take it to a scenic location and have meaningful conversations. Jacob asked if we could do that one and go to Hart Park in Bakersfield on August 28th for our date night. We picked up Cafe Rio (which was where we ate on our first date) and planned to have a picnic. Stacy started to grow suspicious when Jacob showed up in nice shorts instead of his more customary "comfy" clothes, he was talking non-stop, insisted on driving his car instead of hers, and was carrying a full backpack. He had tricked her a few times before though, so Stacy tried to not get too excited. Once we arrived, we went down to the riverbank and Jacob got down on a knee and proposed. Stacy immediately started crying and said "is this a joke," quickly followed by "YES!" Jacob had arranged a beautiful set-up with flowers and candles close by under the shade of a tree. After taking a few photos we drove to one of Stacy's friend (and Matron of Honor's) house where there was a surprise engagement party. Friends from all over came to celebrate with us.