Ella and Sam’s journey began in the great state of Minnesota. Home for a short stint while living in Hawaii, Sam was presented with an opportunity to embark on a rare blind date after receiving a late phone call from a long time Saint John’s friend of his, Danny Pietruszewski. Danny promptly sold Sam on the date and proceeded to hand the phone over to a smooth-talking Minnesota girl. Ella asked Sam a few simple get-to-know-you questions, and they settled on a day to meet up with friends at a brewery in Bloomington. While they both had never experienced a blind date, they were all in. Hitting it off while catching up with college friends, sharing laughs and even some of Ella’s wings. But to her dismay she had been swindled – set up with someone who doesn’t even live in the lower 48! It would be a quick hello and goodbye, but both felt as if they needed to see each other again. Their immediate connection came with ease and they agreed to stay in touch despite the distance between them. After parting ways, the two stayed in close contact throughout the following weeks. It didn’t take long before Ella suggested a visit to the island, and how could Sam say no? They had spent enough time together to weed out any suspicion, but was this crazy? What could their parents possibly be thinking? Turns out it was an excellent decision – Sam was able to show Ella his Hawaii life, and Ella was able to sideline her occupational therapy studies momentarily for some much-needed warm weather. They both knew this was the start of something special. Yet as their connection grew, the Pacific Ocean seemed to as well. Navigating a long-distance relationship in it’s early stages is no easy task, but Sam & Ella promised to make time for each other whenever they could. A trip to Phoenix over Thanksgiving allowed for Ella to meet the Gaineys, and when Christmas rolled around Sam was able to spend time in MN with the Johnsons. They were making it work but the distance was still far too great. Ella moved in with Sam on Oahu in April of 2023, finishing her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy and finding a job at a skilled nursing facility just down the hill from Sam’s house. After several trips to their favorite sunset spot Sam managed to sneak a ring in his pocket one of those nights, his cutoff sweat-shorts leading Ella astray as if this was any other “beers & sunset” sort of evening. She managed to say yes after finally letting Sam get his words out, and the two were engaged to marry on November 16th, 2023. A new chapter of their lives brings them back to Minnesota in the spring of ‘24, counting down the days until they tie the knot in September!