It all began in a high school science classroom, of all places. Honors Biology at St. Helens High School—just two fourteen-year-olds, trying to make sense of Punnett squares and mitochondria, completely unaware that something far more significant was beginning to unfold. Daniel noticed Emelia right away. Maybe it was her energy and the way she lit up when she was passionate about something, or maybe it was how her laughter made the classroom feel less like school and more like possibility. After months of friendship and late-night conversations, friendship blossomed into something more, and eventually, Daniel did what he’d been meaning to do for a while—he asked Emelia to be his girlfriend. She said yes, and that yes became the first of many that would shape their journey. Through the rollercoaster of high school, Daniel and Emelia’s relationship stood steady. They graduated together and started a new chapter at Oregon State University in Fall of 2018—Daniel diving into Chemical Engineering, and Emelia into Ecological Engineering. New town, new classes, same steady love. In the summer of 2021, their little family began to grow—first with Kenai, a tiny foster kitten who never left, then Koda, adopted from a local shelter. Between lectures and leisurely woodland walks with their cats, they made a home in their Corvallis apartment and wrapped up their final year of college side by side. They graduated together in June of 2022 and returned home to save for what was next. Daniel landed a job at Westrock while Emelia stepped into her full-time role at Lower Columbia Engineering, the very place she’d interned every summer. Not long after settling into post-grad life, they got some life-changing news—they were expecting. Without hesitation, they decided to plant roots and bought their first home: a fixer-upper with a breathtaking view of the Columbia River and endless potential. The house needed work—a lot of it—and with Emelia’s dad, Miles, by their side, they threw themselves into five intense months of renovation. Doing a full-scale home makeover while pregnant is no small feat, but somehow, they did it—and they did it together. That chapter alone is a beautiful testament to their love, their teamwork, and the foundation they've built as partners. Just after marking eight years together, they welcomed their beautiful baby boy, Marcellus. Watching each other step into parenthood brought a new dimension to their love—deeper, richer, fuller. Though they had considered each other family for many years, the arrival of Marcellus solidified that bond in a whole new way. After things settled down, Daniel planned something special for their ninth anniversary: a trip to Canada, every detail meticulously planned—a love letter written in adventures, cozy moments, and new memories. Midway through their adventure, on a day surrounded by beauty, love, and meaning, their ninth anniversary, Daniel got down on one knee and asked the question that had been a long time coming. And of course, Emelia said yes. Now, we’re all here—on the edge of yet another beautiful chapter, waiting for the big day where we get to celebrate the official and legal union of two people who’ve already built a life full of love, resilience, and joy. Daniel and Emelia—high school sweethearts, college partners, parents, teammates in life. A love story not just written in milestones, but in the quiet, steady choosing of each other, every single day.