Berk’s perspective: Ian and I met through a mutual friend (Aaron Archual!) on YouthQuest. Aaron told Ian he should volunteer with the ministry team, and he did. I don't actually remember my first encounter with Ian, but he tells me that I introduced myself to him on the bus ride to the church. My friends thought he was so funny and started inviting him to game nights and hangouts. Over the summer of 2020, he messaged me about auditioning for YouthQuest. I missed his message and didn't respond to him for about a month! I eventually got back to him and interviewed him for the improv team. Even after that interview, I had no clue if he was a good fit or not but thought, might as well give him a shot! As a middle schooler, I had always dreamed of being on YQ and marrying someone on the team. I had no clue that Ian would be the man who would fulfill those dreams! Ian's Perspective: I had no idea when I was volunteering as a small group leader on a YouthQuest DNOW weekend that I would meet my future wife, our first encounter was short, Berkeley and I officially met on the bus as we were loading up for the ride, and while our interactions over that weekend were short, we began to see each other more and more across campus and at mutual friends' houses. After COVID struck the world and we went back for the summer I messaged Berkeley to try and get information on auditioning for the improv team, but she left me on read (a brief speedbump in the road, we're still working on responding to my texts), but eventually she helped hire me for the team and we got to serve together over the next two years together! Sparks really started to fly in the spring semester, and per usual, Berkeley figured out what was going on before I did. The constant trips to get coffee, times spent talking in the library while attempting to do homework, many YouthQuest adventures, and much much more finally got to me and I realized that Berkeley was truly one of a kind, and if I didn't hurry up and ask her out I may not have a brain that still functions (spoiler alert: She went out with me, one thing lead to another, and now we're here!)

Berk’s perspective: This man woke me up by throwing rocks at my window at 4:40 am. I woke up super confused and saw that he was calling me. Ian would never be up that early, so I thought he had been hospitalized or something. I answered the phone and he told me to come downstairs. I looked out the window and saw him holding yellow sunflowers and knew that something was up. I was super giddy and ran downstairs where he told me we were going on a hike and that he had made me coffee. I ran into my room to change and was literally jumping up and down because I knew that today must be the day! On the way, I was getting anxious because I had a full day of work, meetings, and Bible study. I didn’t want his big proposal to be cut short because of my schedule. I reminded him that I had to be in the office for work. He told me he communicated with my bosses (Dr. Kramer and Dr. Mallory) that I was off for the day, and he got me out of Bible study (sorry Alaina and Karis). We hiked up Cole Mountain, ate a breakfast he brought, and as the sun was coming up, he proposed. It was the sweetest day Ian's Perspective: I was in a bit of a hard spot. I had the ring, I had talked to her parents, and I knew she was the one, but how was I finally going to ask her such an important question? I wanted to surprise her, but make it memorable, but we were busy every weekday and weekend through the end of the school year and I was ready to propose ASAP. The solution? Finally, take her on dream date from when she was younger by waking her up by throwing rocks at her window for a sunrise picnic, and do it on a weekday when she would have no idea it's coming. So with the help of a few friends to plan it, clear her schedule, and make fake plans to keep it clear, the day was set, and all that was left was to wake up at 3:30, get ready, pick her up and actually go on the hike. After finally making it to the top, the sun came up over the mountain, we had our picnic, I asked her to marry me, and she said yes!