Noah and Emily first met in the summer of 2023 on a mission trip to Tanzania—because of course their love story started on another continent. What began as teamwork quickly turned into friendship as they served side by side, learned each other’s character, made far too many inside jokes, and discovered they shared the same playful spirit. Between ministry days, once-in-a-lifetime safari adventures, and taking in the breathtaking beauty of Africa, they couldn’t help but admire one another and the way God was working through each of them. Noah was drawn to Emily’s heart for the Lord, her bold faith, outgoing chaos (the best kind), and her genuine love for people. He noticed how easily she connected with others and how fully she showed up wherever she was needed—plus, he thought she was pretty cute. Emily, on the other hand, was struck by Noah’s intentionality, his deep care for those in need, and his big, steady heart. What stood out to her most was his sincere desire to be obedient to the Lord in every aspect of his life. One of their favorite memories from the trip was serving a family in Arusha—specifically when Noah carried Emily on his shoulders so she could reach the gutters and clean the roof. Nothing says “missions” like teamwork, laughter, and questionable balance. After returning home, Noah and Emily stayed in touch, holding onto the qualities they admired in one another. Somewhere along the way, Emily secretly coined the term “forever crush,” joking that she’d marry him in an instant… little did she know, God was already writing a much bigger story

After Tanzania, life took Noah and Emily in different directions. Noah headed to Washington for the fire academy and began working for various departments, while Emily started her nursing program at Boise State. Though miles apart, they remained connected—cheering each other on from afar and trusting God with the timing. In the spring of 2025, God brought their paths back together. Emily had a convention in Seattle, and Noah suggested they “catch up” while she was in town. What followed was a very intentional outing that definitely wasn’t called a date—starting with a trip to the top of the Space Needle. As the sun set over the city, they talked for hours, and everything felt easy, familiar, and unmistakably right. The night ended at Buca di Beppo, where the waiter stopped by four times for their order, but they were far too wrapped up in conversation to notice the menu. As the tables emptied and chairs were stacked, neither of them wanted the night to end. The next evening, Noah called and asked if she wanted to keep the fun going—this time with breakfast and a walk through Pike Place Market. Somewhere between coffee, laughter, and wandering the city, they made a pinky promise that this wouldn’t be the last time they saw each other. Being together felt like home, and once again, God was making His plan beautifully clear.

It didn’t take long before their “catch-ups” turned into FaceTime calls that stretched well past 4 a.m. Conversation came easily, laughter came often, and before long, Noah knew in his heart of hearts that Emily was the one. Wanting her to step fully into his world, Noah invited Emily to meet his family. Just a few weeks later, she flew out, and the adventure began. They wandered through vibrant tulip fields at spring festivals, spent late nights talking about life and discovering how closely their hopes and desires aligned, and made memories that felt both exciting and deeply familiar. Emily was instantly smitten with her future in-laws, feeling welcomed and loved from the very start.The two road-tripped to Oregon to meet Noah’s sister and brother-in-law—scream-singing songs, laughing until their sides hurt, and soaking in every mile together. Somewhere along the way, “What’s Up” by 4 Non Blondes became their anthem, a soundtrack to a season filled with joy, certainty, and the kind of love that just made sense.

Long distance only deepened the friendship at the heart of Noah and Emily’s relationship. They talked about everything under the sun—faith, dreams, fears, and all the little moments in between. They went on virtual cooking dates, had FaceTime dinners at Olive Garden (corny but elite), played Farkle and Pictionary, and attempted to sync Disney movies—though they usually talked through the entire film anyway. While distance had its gifts, their favorite moments were always the ones spent together. They soaked up afternoons paddleboarding through the Sawtooths, took endless walks along the Greenbelt, dreamed about life together under the stars, celebrated Thanksgiving at the fire station, and joyfully stepped into each other’s worlds—each visit feeling more like home than the last. In June, Emily and Noah took a ferry to Friday Harbor—another bucket list item lovingly checked off by Noah. They ate what they still claim was the best calamari known to man, drove the coastline, picked wildflowers, waved across the water to Canada, and shared an unforgettable moment at Cattle Point Lighthouse. Wrapped in sunshine and certainty, Noah and Emily said “I love you” for the first time—a moment of pure bliss. They even missed their ferry back to the mainland, but in true Noah-and-Emily fashion, they filled the extra time with laughter, scream-singing, Sharpie tattoos, and surprisingly great food—turning a mishap into one of their favorite memories. Over the Fourth of July, Noah flew into Boise for just 24 hours—because apparently meeting your girlfriend’s parents is worth a cross-state flight and very little sleep. What started as a short, whirlwind trip ended with full hearts, happy chaos, and the clear consensus that Noah fit right in.

Soon after, God called them once again onto the mission field—this time to Thailand. There, Noah and Emily served together in rural towns, going door to door sharing the Gospel, helping farmers harvest longan, visiting schools, and entering the Red Light District. They were stretched spiritually and grew immensely as individuals and as a couple. Many nights ended on the hotel rooftop, debriefing the day, looking out over the city, and watching the stars. It was a full-circle moment, echoing the beginning of their story in Tanzania.

At the end of August, Noah and the Borgman parents had a little date of their own. Before everyone officially met up, Noah took Mr. and Mrs. Borgman on a walk along the Skagit River—talking about life, Emily, and what the future might hold. It was a good walk, a good conversation, and a really good sign. By the end, everyone had learned a lot about each other and felt even more confident that this whole thing was something special. Soon after, the Borgmans met Noah’s family for the very first time—and Emily was there for it all. From the start, everyone clicked. Stories were shared, worlds collided, and it felt like one big, happy preview of what was to come. The weekend was topped off with a hike up Oyster Dome, sealing the moment as one they’d all remember and the growing certainty that these families fit together just as well as Noah and Emily did.

September brought Noah to Boise once again—this time for job interviews… and, conveniently, a little extra time with Emily. While there, they celebrated Emily’s birthday in true Noah fashion. He bravely tagged along to her college ministry’s fall retreat, fully earning his “trooper” badge. What started as moral support quickly turned into something more meaningful as Noah learned a lot himself and got a front-row seat to Emily’s world and the community she loves. They wrapped up the month with a cozy weekend in McCall, experiencing all four seasons in one day, ducking into coffee shops, playing board games, and soaking in the simple joy of being together. Between interviews, birthday candles, and shared laughter, September felt like another sweet confirmation that life was better—no matter the weather—when they were side by side.

While Emily was busy studying away during her fall semester, Noah was quietly on a mission—one she knew absolutely nothing about. The ring was already chosen, safely in his possession, and Noah knew there was only one very important step left. With about a week before he’d see Emily again, he made a call that would change everything. As Noah walked along the Seattle waterfront, phone in hand, he dialed Mr. Borgman. Little did he know, Noah was calling to see when it might be possible to meet in person to ask a very important question. They were two states away and time was of the essence. And just like that, the plan was in motion. Emily, meanwhile, knew absolutely none of this. Before the operation even began, Noah had carefully planted a (very believable) white lie—telling Emily he was heading out early to set up elk hunting camp. She bought it completely. No suspicions. No clues. No idea what Noah had up his sleeve. Tickets were booked, and before Noah knew it, he was landing in Sacramento.To keep the op under wraps, Noah flew in at night to meet with Mr. Borgman under the cover of darkness. Tony picked him up from the airport, they headed out to the family ranch, met Uncle John, and settled into the RV for dinner and to talk about the million dollar question. And talk they did. For the next three hours, they talked about Emily, the future, faith, finances, love, and life. They shared stories, hopes, and a mutual love for the same incredible girl. By the end of the night—and after a meal and a celebratory glass of whiskey—Mr. Borgman gave Noah his full blessing to marry his daughter. Mission success. Noah, heart full and task complete, left at the crack of dawn, leaving behind nothing but gratitude and one very well-kept secret. And the secret stayed safe… right up until the proposal.

At long last, the moment had arrived. Thanks to Gerry (Emily’s 95 year old bestie), Noah and Emily had the chance to stay at her family cabin tucked deep in the Sawtooth Mountains. Noah had planned a hike, and Emily—thinking it would simply be a beautiful adventure—had no idea what was coming. After a week of fresh snowfall, Saturday dawned as a perfect bluebird day. The two set out on what would be a long but stunning 12-mile hike, winding through snow-dusted peaks, alpine lakes, and breathtaking wilderness. They laughed, told big stories, ate homemade sandwiches, and soaked in the beauty around them. Halfway through the hike, they reached their destination: Alice Lake. The moment Emily saw it, she was beaming—completely overwhelmed by the beauty of the mountains reflected in the still water. And the moment Noah saw her, he knew. This was it. Fighting back tears, they walked toward the lake’s edge, where a small peninsula stretched out into the water. In true Emily fashion, she had suggested they film their infamous handshake. Noah, internally celebrating the most perfectly timed opportunity of his life, set up the camera. As Emily waited, wiggling on the peninsula, Noah walked toward her—then stopped. Before the handshake could begin, he paused, he looked into her eyes, he dropped to one knee, pulled out the ring, and asked the most important question he would ever ask. Emily was stunned. Overwhelmed. Crying. Laughing. Processing. (Barely.) And of course—she said yes, completely forgetting to look at the dazzling diamond placed on her left hand. As they stood there in disbelief and joy, Noah finally revealed his secret mission to Sacramento just days earlier. Emily was floored. More tears were shed. Hearts were full. And just like that, the six mile hike back felt a whole lot shorter—filled with shouting into the mountains, “WE’RE ENGAGED!” and enjoying being secret fiancés for a full day thanks to zero cell service. But Noah wasn’t done yet. When they returned home Sunday night, Emily walked into one final surprise: a celebration already waiting. Noah had secretly coordinated with her roommates, and aa plethora of their favorite people were there to welcome them home. Champagne popped, stories were told, old photos resurfaced, and FaceTime calls went out to family announcing the news. It was the perfect ending to a perfect beginning—one written with intention, joy, faith, and a whole lot of love.

Since saying yes, life has been sweet and a little chaotic—in the best way. Noah and Emily spent their first Thanksgiving at the firehouse, met even more family, and somehow turned wedding planning into memorable date nights (complete with snacks and laughter). Between random road trips, everyday adventures, and plenty of goofing around, they’ve been soaking up this season of engagement—grateful, excited, and falling even more in love.