D + M

Danielle and Mitchell met on the first day of college at UCCS. It was August 2016 – move-in day. In the evening, after everyone was moved in, the school hosted an ice cream social out on the lawn. Mitchell and his roommates were thinking about skipping it, but a call from Danielle’s roommate convinced him to go. Mitchell’s roommate was friends with Danielle’s roommate, and that’s how this whole thing started.   The ice cream social was awkward, as most school events are, but they were glad to have something to do. They hung out, laughed, and ate way too many ice cream sandwiches. Danielle and Mitchell talked a bit but were more focused on the group conversation. Neither of them had a clue what their future would hold together, but in the moment, they were too concerned with trying to check the other out without getting caught!   After ice cream, the group decided to go on a hike near campus. They made the short drive, and started the climb, which would have been relatively easy and short if it hadn’t started raining! As the rain fell, the trail became muddier and more slippery. The boys took off up the trail, while the girls struggled behind (flip flops don’t make great hiking shoes). Mitchell stayed back with the girls, taking their hand to help them up and over difficult sections of the trail. Danielle says this was the moment she saw the gentleman in Mitchell.   The duo remained friends and hung out occasionally, but it wasn’t until their second semester when things started to heat up. On their first date, they had a nice dinner and then sat in the car for 4 hours listening to music and talking. To this day, this is still a nostalgic way for them to connect and spend time together. Danielle and Mitchell have felt comfortable with each other since the beginning, each can show up to the relationship as they are, never needing to hide their true self. Mitchell can talk to Danielle for hours - it never gets old.   As the first year of school wrapped up, Danielle and Mitchell had been going steady for about a month. Mitchell was off to Sioux Falls, SD for a summer internship, and Danielle would be living back in Littleton with her family, so they were facing their first round of long distance. Danielle flew to Sioux Falls to see Mitchell, and they spent an incredible weekend at the lake in Minnesota, where Mitchell finally told Danielle he had fallen in love with her.   Since that day, they’ve been through plenty of ups and downs, but their commitment to each other has been unshakable. Danielle and Mitchell have navigated long distance relationship struggles, being more than 1,000 miles apart for 18 months. They’ve survived moving in together in a 400 sq.ft. apartment in Vail. They have supported each other in career moves and job searches. They are spiritually, physically, and emotionally more attracted to each other today than they’ve ever been before. Danielle and Mitchell were always meant to be together. Below is the first picture Mitchell and Danielle ever took together back in 2017.