Gabe and Kiki met each other through an online dating site called OkCupid in 2018. After chatting back and forth for a couple of weeks, they decided to meet in-person. Their first date was at a Thai restaurant in DC. They connected on their love for Halloween, travel, museums, animals, and very very corny jokes. They knew how to make each other laugh, and not a silent chuckle kind of laugh. We mean a belting laugh that makes your stomach hurt and your eyes water. At some point, they realized that they couldn't be away from each other and the rest is history. Now they both live together, and coincidentally work at the same job at the Department of Defense. Kiki continues to contemplate on making them dog-parents, but she realizes that they both like sleeping in...and that the pet fees in their apartment are NO JOKE.

While vacationing in Monterey, CA, Gabe and Kiki took an early morning hike at Asilomar State Beach before visiting Gabe's grandparents. While walking back to the car, Kiki asked Gabe for the keys so she could empty the sand from her shoes. Gabe thought she was on to him and knew about the proposal. In actuality, Kiki had no idea. She WAS emptying sand from her shoes. When she came back, Gabe started to show her some shells he found on the beach. One of the shells Gabe picked up had an engagement ring in it. Kiki was in shock. Gabe was in shock that Kiki was in shock. In fact, he was so shocked that he almost forgot to say four important words: Will you marry me? Thankfully, he remembered and Kiki said yes. Gabe proposed with the ring in a shell because the first gift he ever gave her was a collection of seashells they collected in Savannah. He chose Monterey for the proposal because it's a place where both his and Kiki's family have lived at some point in time. Monterey is a small place, and it's possible that each of their family members could have crossed paths. It was a crossroads of where the past, present, and future met for them.

Kiki - Is ACTUALLY from DC and is proud of it. - Kiki is her nickname. Her real name is A'kitriana (Ah-Key-Tree-Anna) - She loves to cook - She's been to Egypt twice. The second time she went, she brought Gabe and his parents - She's a REALLY good haggler when she's shopping abroad. (Ask Gabe's parents.) - She hates bugs and is an equal opportunity hater for all things with an exoskeleton - loves sweet snacks - Loves any view of the water Gabriel - He was born in Oregon but spent most of his life in Louisiana - Animal Lover - Loves ancient history - Loves salty snacks - Eagle Scout - Volunteered in Kenya - Lived in Turkey for 6 months - Loves the outdoors

We not only are celebrating our marriage. We are also celebrating our farewell! Kiki recently accepted a position in Amman, Jordan. Since Gabe also works for the Department of Defense, he'll have a job over there as well through a spousal accommodation. Gabe and Kiki are scheduled to leave the U.S. in Summer 2025, and they will be stationed for 3 years (or however long they are allowed to stay). On their first date, Gabe asked Kiki, "How do you feel about living abroad?" She responded, "Do you want me to pack a bag tonight?" Who would have thought that 6 years later, they would be going on this journey at the SAME Agency that neither of them predicted they would work at together. Since they have no kids, no pets, and DEFINITELY no property (Millennial problems), going abroad didn't feel too much of a sacrifice. Some people may ask, "why the Middle East and why JORDAN?" For one, the couple took advantage of the opportunity when it was presented. Second, Jordan is a beautiful and extremely safe country despite the news people have heard about their neighbors. In many ways, it's arguably safer than living in D.C...and the U.S. That and... if you could be 3 hours from Italy, 2 hours from Greece, and 1 hour from Turkey AND Dubai...would you say "no?"