In 2018, Alex (living in Bellingham) invited Rebecka (living in Portland) to meet him on a spontaneous surf trip in Cannon Beach, Oregon. She almost didn't go. After some nudging from friends, she hopped in her car and left for an adventure she didn't know would change her life. Rebecka knew she was toast the minute she saw Alex pop a Rolling Stones cassette tape into his Bronco II, roll down his window, and sing all the way to the beach. Alex told his friend he'd just met his wife on the way home from that trip.

It had started to rain one evening while working together in the garden, so Alex and I took shelter in a nearby treehouse to wait out the storm. The rain persisted and Alex ran inside to make us some coffee. When he returned to the treehouse, he held two cups of coffee in one hand and a saucer in the other, which was covered to hide a ring. In that little treehouse in the rain, he asked and I said yes 100 times to be safe. We cried, dreamed about our future, and thanked the Lord for bringing us together. It was quiet, simple, and perfectly meaningful.