On May 21st, 2021, Kirsten and Dan matched on Hinge, a popular dating app, where Dan initiated a conversation with the message, “Hi, Kirsten! Smile on fleek. :) Big plans this summer?” Sparks immediately flew, especially when they started uncovering commonalities from their upbringings that seemed too good to be true being from worlds apart. With Kirsten living in a suburb of Minneapolis, MN and Dan in Arlington, VA right outside of D.C., they decided to take a chance on a cross-country romance and have their first virtual date on FaceTime. That over 3-hour conversation led to a summer of many more FaceTime dates, long phone calls, and a constant flurry of messages being sent back and forth. On a warm September day in 2021, Kirsten picked up Dan from the MSP airport and as soon as they locked eyes in person, it was love at first sight. Their whirlwind weekend (complete with a missed flight) was the first of many trips in their long-distance relationship, each visit incorporating more family and friends and precious memories made as a couple. After a year of accumulating lots of frequent flyer miles between the two, Kirsten and Dan packed up a moving van and made the over 17-hour drive from MN to VA, complete with their loving siblings in tow. They continued to deepen and strengthen their relationship finally living in the same city, falling more in love each day. On April 3rd, 2023, Dan proposed so sweetly to Kirsten under her favorite cherry blossom tree in her charming apartment courtyard - it was the simplest ‘yes’ she’d ever said. After getting married, the happy couple plans on continuing life together in Arlington, exploring historic sites, eating too much seafood, and spending time with family and friends that live nearby. They gratefully and expectantly look to the Lord, the author of their love story, for many more years of joy to come.