Our story begins at the Akinson Quadrangle, a residence hall at Montana State University which sports timeless brick walls and a Harry-Potter-esque feeling matched only by its residents. There, between a resident and a resident adviser, a forbidden love blossomed. Our love was known to none, save for a few close friends. We were able to finish the year this way, sneaking in and out of the other’s building and taking seats in quiet corners on dates around Bozeman.

We went on many dates in the early times, each finding it uncommonly easy to have fun with the other. We shared in the pleasures of local foods, sights, and events of all kinds. It was easy to be happy, as we always had the other in reach. Outside of school, we began spending our summers together, creating memories we are excited to remember for the rest of our lives. Soon, however, our college years would come to an end, and we would have to work to bring our future into focus.

While Isak finished his last year of undergraduate at Montana State University, Cassie took a job teaching at the Whitefish Middle School. Things were looking great, except for the long road that now stretched three-hundred miles between us. As the stresses of school, to each in its own way, got more intense, we found ourselves faced with a lot of work required in order to maintain our relationship. Leaning on our foundation of friendship, we found it to be worth it in the end. After Isak graduated and we spent another year on the river, Isak was able to move to Kalispell so that we could again live in range of the other.

This year, Isak found himself briefly in the employ of a local brunch kitchen, and more permanently as a household mover. Cassie has been teaching 5th grade, and plans to finish another year in her dream job. Isak plans on pursuing further education in the fields of Culture and History, and so will be working to secure funds for that purpose. Our future looks bright, and we are pleased to celebrate our commitment to each other through it all.

1. Laughing when nobody else did at a Native American Opera on campus. This was our first date. We walked a half mile from the Quads before holding hands. 2. Taking a month-long trip to Norway, Denmark and The Netherlands writing down every purchase in a small yellow notebook to keep track of our funds. We came home with $2.70. 3. Raft guiding together for a summer, living part-time in a Tipi at the raft Warehouse. 4. Attending our first Lil' Smokies bluegrass concert at The Emerson, in Bozeman. We became huge fans and have seen them seven times since. 5. Hiking the Bridger Ridge in Bozeman and getting lost. We spent hours scrambling through scree to get down to Ross Pass and had to hike out early. 6. Paying for a much-needed gallon of ice cream in mostly change, including 93 pennies that we scrounged around for frantically. 7. Driving to Arizona together to visit Isak's grandparents! We spontaneously chose to drive through the night taking turns until reaching Tucson. Once there, we had some of the best Mexican food ever made and hiked in Saguaro National Park. On the return trip we missed an exit in Salt Lake.... and didn't realize it until we had gone two hours in the wrong direction. 8. Learning to cook together. We cook dinner together most nights. Yes, there have been fire alarms and one ruined pan, but typically it turns out well. 9. Cassie started "Wine N Dine Wednesdays" with all of our friends in Bozeman. For a summer, we would get together, laugh, and cook on Wednesdays. In the end, the group was about 25 people a night. We have some of our times simply with friends and good food. 10. Every year Hannon Hall does an annual fundraiser called the Date Auction. Cassie spontaneously bought Isak for $200 and had to call her Dad for most of the money to pay. Note: the money went to a local charity!