Todd first contacted Christen in 2016 on a dating site. His photo looked staid and serious, and communication fizzled. In September of 2019, Christen found Todd's updated profile and initiated contact, not recognizing him -- he was smiling! Todd remembered the pretty artist, and this time he quickly asked her out. They met halfway between Seattle and Bellingham, and for the next five hours, chatted up a storm. Christen and Todd discovered that being their nerdy selves around each other felt natural. Their shared values of faith, family, art, and Nature led to many conversations and prayer times. They didn’t know they were in for a whirlwind of joy and sorrow! In October, Christen introduced Todd to her family, and Todd was immediately embraced by the Mattixes. Todd introduced Christen to his sister Beth, who deemed Christen weird enough for Todd (high praise)! A video call with his East Coast sister Jill garnered further approval. Then Todd’s father died. Christen and Todd laid him to rest alongside Todd's mother, Christen never having met either of Todd's parents. At Christmastime, Todd and Christen flew East for a two-week vacation with Jill and her family. They enjoyed making art, taking walks, playing with Todd’s niece and nephew, and visiting museums. Before their scheduled flight home, Christen got asked unexpectedly to teach, and flew home early. On Valentine’s weekend, Christen and Todd joined Christen’s extended family in Victoria, B.C. for a relative's 50th anniversary. They also enjoyed a Byzantine church and a French café with Christen’s sister Jubilee. At the end of an intense winter, the pandemic began, followed by the other challenges of 2020. In the midst of it all, Todd proposed, they had a betrothal ceremony, and began preparing for married life with gusto! Christen and Todd have ridden wave upon wave together. The challenges have proven their love for each other and God’s faithfulness. The joy of the Lord is our strength! (Neh. 8:10)