Eileen and Nathaniel’s story started, like most good tales, in the most unexpected of places—on a summer ministry trip. It was eight years ago, back in their undergrad days, when fate threw them together on a team at Friends University. The program was part of a summer ministry initiative, and a group of six embarked on a summer that would mark the start of something neither of them expected. Imagine six personalities packed into a van for endless hours—awkward encounters with campers, laughter, and long car ride sing-alongs. For Eileen and Nathaniel, it was the start of a quirky acquaintanceship that no one realized would last. At first, they were just people who existed in each other’s orbit, occasionally catching each other’s ear during deep conversations. Once both had joined Singing Quakers they continued to foster a friendship beyond familiarity. Singing together, they shared countless hours of rehearsals, productions, and travel. Their first international adventure together was in 2019, when the choir went to Europe. Wandering through ancient cities, sharing meals, and discussing life between sightseeing only deepened their friendship. After Eileen graduated, Nathaniel remained at Friends finishing his undergrad and she began teaching. The two managed to maintain their friendship and even formed something unexpectedly special: a “band". (It's not really a band.) Along with a few other friends, they formed "Piss Couch". The name stemmed from the ridiculous amount of time spent lounging on their friend's yellow, floral couch, which could only be described as a "quirky work of art." The couch became their haven—there, they shared music, books, and deep talks about the world. Like true adventurers, they traveled together—hitting concerts and hiking trips, celebrating their love for the outdoors and music. Despite enjoying each other’s company, their romantic endeavors were a bit more complicated. They tried dating twice, only to have things fizzle out awkwardly both times. They couldn’t quite bridge the gap between close friends and something more. Then, when Nathaniel moved back to New Mexico, they didn’t speak for 11 months—probably because of that one sassy time Eileen told Nathaniel to “Have a Merry Christmas”, without the exclamation point. Then, in an unexpected plot twist, Eileen reached out. It wasn’t a dramatic phone call or an epic declaration of feelings—it was just a simple rekindling of an old friendship. They picked up right where they had left off, talking about Jesus, books, music, and all the little things they had loved about each other in the first place. It felt like no time had passed at all, and the spark between them? Well, that never quite went out. This became abundantly clear when Eileen visited Nathaniel in New Mexico after running her half marathon in Utah. Nathaniel knew during her visit he was still “not over her.” A few short weeks later, in March of 2024, they met up with their old Piss Couch crew for a hiking trip in Fort Collins. As they trekked through the rugged beauty of the mountains, they realized that, despite the years, the awkward failures to launch, and the whole "we're just friends" thing, they still had something special. By the end of the trip, with the Rocky Mountains as their backdrop and the warmth of old memories surrounding them, Nathaniel was sure. With a nervous smile and all the right words, he asked Eileen out, officially. And just like that, after eight years of friendship, two failed attempts at romance, and one very distinct yellow, floral couch, they began their relationship. What once had been complicated is now quite the cheeky tale! After all, who else would’ve put up with all the weirdness and wonder that came with being part of each other’s lives? Eileen and Nathaniel knew they had finally figured it out—and will tell you, “It was totally worth the wait!”