Our story starts, as so many others do, on the campus of Southern Adventist University. Although we were both in the education department by the end of our freshman year, switched majors and three years of student missions combined (Anna in Hawaii ‘21-‘22, Noah in Kosrae, Micronesia ‘22-‘23, Anna in Montana ‘23-‘24) caused us to not have a class together until the fall of 2024. We officially met in an education class since at this point we were both elementary ed majors, but it wasn’t until the middle of the semester when we attended a school concert with Rachel Crutcher, Anna’s cousin and one of Noah’s friends, that we really connected and started talking. After both of us participated in a student missions vespers, Anna asked Noah if he would like to go on walks with her in the evenings since they both needed exercise minutes for the fitness classes they were taking (come to find out, Noah didn’t need half as many minutes as Anna did, but he conveniently never mentioned it). Those walks sometimes turned into several hour long, 4 and 5 mile walks all over campus as we talked about everything from education classes to our shared love of nature to working at summer camp. Finally, one night in November, we went out to stargaze together and Noah asked if we could be a couple. Anna said yes, and the rest of the semester was a whirlwind of meeting each other’s families, finishing classes, and spending as much time as we possibly could together. After Anna graduated in May of 2025, we went on a roadtrip together across the western United States. We visited seven states, seven national parks, and drove over 4,000 miles in the course of two weeks! Car camping and staying with relatives along the way made for some incredible memories. The fact that we were still best friends after this crazy trip was a big indicator for both of us that we’d found our person. Directly after this trip, we flew to Kauai and spent three weeks with Noah’s extended family who live on the island. During that time we made many more memories, including the highlight of the trip - our engagement! Noah proposed at his favorite beach - Polihale State Park. His siblings and cousins were there to take pictures, and the two of us spent the evening stargazing on the darkest beach on the island. It was beautiful! Now, Anna is teaching grades K-2 and living in Morristown, TN while Noah is finishing up his last year at Southern. We are wedding planning amidst Anna’s job and Noah’s student teaching and traveling back and forth to see each other on the weekends. It’s a crazy time, but we are beyond excited to start this new chapter of our lives together!