Of all the people available on Hinge in the Twin Cities Area,

God saw it fit that we came across each other's profiles

I (Tom) saw Kayla's profile first - I loved the adventurous spirit I saw in her pictures, and sent a "Like" to one of my favorites. When she was viewing my profile, one of my prompts caught her eye: "The key to my heart is ..... Jesus." She sent a like back, matching us. After a few back-and-forths, she asked me out for coffee.

After we set up a time and place, she told me to look for the girl with a high bun and a mauve tank top with a sunflower on it.

I had been on the fence about showing up with flowers, but when she sent that last part, it sealed the deal for me: I was bringing her sunflowers to our first date.

A few days after matching on Hinge, we met for coffee at a Caribou in Blaine, MN.

I (Kayla) showed up with my high bun and sunflower top (as promised), and was surprised with a bouquet of sunflowers from a handsome, bearded Irish lad.

What felt like a 30 minute date turned out to be a four-and-a-half-hour, in-depth conversation as we caffeinated, shared experiences, asked questions, discussed Scripture, and even sang "Seek Ye First" together.

Needless to say, we elected to go on a second date.

Date #5 came at the end of July. After 7.2 miles of hiking in William O'Brian State Park, and while eating a picnic dinner, I (Kayla) told Tom that I didn't want to see anyone else other than him, and that I wanted to be exclusive with him. He informed me that, oh, he deleted the app already - last night, in fact. In between bites of chicken salad, I deleted the app in front of him

We were officially a couple.

As we grew closer together through the fall and early winter, we started meeting each other's families. We both come from bigger-than-average families, and both fell at different places in the birth order line-up: the first of five children (Kayla) and the last of five children (Tom). Nieces, nephews, and brother-in-laws expanded his side, while cousins, cousins-in-laws, and their children padded her side. Tom got his first taste of what being the oldest was like (as well as having a lot of cousins) when he came to Cousins' Christmas - chaos, chatter, and carbs galore!

As we continued to partake in each other's family celebrations, we could see how we completed the other: I (Tom) bring out the little kid in Kayla, and she brings out the adult/older brother in me.

Winter gave way to spring, and in April, we went with Kayla's family to AZ for their family vacation. I (Tom) was looking forward to spending time not just with Kayla, but also her parents, as I had a big question to ask them.

The day we arrived in Phoenix, there was a snafu with the car rental, and while Patrick (Kayla's dad), Kayla, and her brother were trying to find the car, I was left standing with Karen (Kayla's mom), guarding the luggage. Not knowing when I'd get another moment alone with her, I quickly told her what I was planning to do on the trip: "I'm going to ask Pat for his blessing to marry Kayla."

While I knew the blessing is traditionally given by the bride's father,

I knew I wanted her mother to feel included.

The next day, while Kayla was napping, I was out walking around the resort and saw Patrick alone outside the condo. We started talking about the day and other small things. During the conversation, I told him that while I didn't plan on proposing for a few months, I wanted to ask for his blessing for Kayla's hand in marriage.

His response was immediate - YES!!

They say time flies when you’re having fun, and before we knew it, spring had turned to summer, and we were approaching one year together. I (Tom) had been wrestling on when to propose, and felt led by God to wait for the one year mark. I suggested to Kayla that we should go back to the Caribou Coffee in Blaine on July 11th, 2025 - one year exactly from when we first met. She agreed immediately, and we put it on the calendar. I decided that was when I was going to propose to her, and started making plans to make the day special.

We met at the coffee shop at 5pm. Kayla wore the same outfit she’d worn on our first date - red converse shoes, black skort, mauve top with a sunflower on it, and a high bun. I brought her a bouquet of the same flowers I got for her the first time: sunflowers. I also had on the same shirt I wore on our first date, but with a twist - I had a second shirt underneath with a message for her. When she saw me, Kayla asked, “Aren’t you hot, wearing two shirts like that?” Trying to keep a calm face, I said nothing, just smiled and held the door open for her.

After we got coffee and sat down on the patio to enjoy them, I took a deep breath and managed to get out, “Well, this is where it all began …” and lifted up my shirt to reveal the message on the one underneath: “Will You Marry Me? {check “yes” or “no}.” Pulled the ring from my pocket, I got down on a knee and asked her the question out loud, to which she replied …… “YES!!!”

I (Kayla) like to joke that Tom dumped me as his girlfriend to instead make me his fiancée (Tom hates that joke). While our seasons of dating and engagement are drawing to their close, we welcome the new beginning together as husband and wife. We would not have gotten here today, were it not for the grace of God and the love and prayers of the wonderful people in our lives. Thank you for your support, advice, and presence in our lives.

As we move into a new season of marriage, we praise God, the Author of marriage, and continue to seek Him, as for anything to succeed, Christ must be first and foremost. The choice to die to ourselves and seek Him first is a daily one, much like how the choice to live out wedding vows is not an “I Do,” but an “I Will,” by the grace of God.

Thank you for joining us on our wedding day, whether it be in person or in spirit.

“A cord of three strands is not easily broken.” ~Ecclesiastes 4:12