We met in late 2021 during our final year at the University of Oklahoma, in a Zoom Chinese class. We were paired together for a project and both of us were quietly (or not so quietly) excited that we got the cute person in class as our partner. What began as a one-time FaceTime call to work on the project quickly turned into daily texting and a mutual desire to keep doing classwork together (any excuse to see each other!). After a month or two of talking, Cameron finally worked up the courage to ask Maddi out on a date. The date was the first time we saw each other not over a screen! The ramen spot we had planned on going to was closed, and so the first date turned into an adventure driving around Norman trying to find a good restaurant open on Sunday night. We eventually settled on a pizza spot, and stayed until closing talking about travel, food, school, and all things life. Conversation was easy, with laughter and a natural connection throughout. That night confirmed that the spark existed not just through text, and a second and third date followed quickly after. Past that, we started to find any possible excuse we could to spend time together, and never looked back.

After a few weeks of seeing each other, we both went home for Thanksgiving and revealed this budding romance to our respective families. A few weeks later, after finishing final exams, we went back to Tulsa and met each other's families for the first time (a nervy affair for us both!). That winter break, we also took our first ever trip together, driving up to NW Arkansas and ringing in the New Year together in Bentonville. The next semester, Cameron's last and Maddi's second-to-last, we had our first and only in-person class together and ended up spending pretty much every single day together. We first said “I love you” to each other a few months after our first date, on Valentine's Day. After Cameron graduated in May, we made the decision to do long distance while Maddi finished her last semester and Cameron started his job in Seattle. It was hard at times, but we always knew we were going to make it work. We visited each other often, planned trips whenever we could, and supported each other through busy seasons. In January 2023, a bit over a year after our first date, we moved in together and began building a life side by side. Since moving in with each other in Seattle, we’ve been so grateful to have built such an amazing life here and made so many memories. We've traveled all over the PNW, soaking up the incredible summers here. We’ve made the most of the winters, traveling to New Zealand for the first time in Christmas 2023, introducing Maddi to Cameron's family there, and again this last December (a rather eventful trip!). We've taken trips to Central America and Europe, been to countless concerts of our favorite artists, and spent so much time with loved ones and old friends, as well as making so many new ones.

We took time off work during December 2025 for a New Zealand trip we had been looking forward to all year. After just over a week in the South Island, and a great Christmas in Pauanui with family, Cameron suggested a day trip to Maddi a few days before New Year's Eve. It was a rainy summer day, but with a bag secretly packed by Cameron with overnight gear, we drove out towards Hot Water Beach with a stop at Colenso Cafe along the way, enjoying the cozy overcast vibes of the Coromandel and each other's company. We carried on and ended up at the Te Pare Point walk, and with raincoats on and the ring in Cameron's pocket (entirely to Maddi's surprise!), we ventured out. With the heavy mist and whipping winds, we turned off the main trail and stumbled upon some stairs leading down to a little spot called Hidden Cove, on the south side of Hahei Beach. Standing on the stairs with nothing but the sound of crashing waves below us and not another soul in sight, Cameron decided this was where he wanted to ask Maddi to spend the rest of their lives together. Happy tears swelled up in both of our eyes, as Cameron got down on one knee and pulled out the ring. The rest of the day was filled with disbelief, joy, and so much love. We headed over to Hot Water Beach for the surprise Airbnb for the night (another successful surprise from Cameron) and called family and friends to break the news. We cannot wait to return to the Coromandel and celebrate with all of you!