Back in 2019 Marissa was part of a photoshoot and was randomly placed with a girl named Izzy. Marissa immediately added her on instagram and saw she had a really attractive older brother. At the time she thought nothing about it and just continued to enjoy the posts of when Izzy posted about her family and that one brother of hers. Fast forward a couple years to 2021.... Marissa has also prayed for a man who loves the Lord, a man who can lead her well, and a man who is driven. It was the end of 2021 when Marissa downloaded an online dating app one last time. While swiping, she found Izzys brother on there. She knew she had to swipe right. We matched and immediately started talking. It didn't take long for Marissa to crack a joke about knowing his sister and Gavin then asked his sister about her. Clearly it went well because September 2021 was our last first date!

Our first date is one we will always get to laugh at. Gavin picked Marissa up and they had reservations at Austin's grill in Fort Collins. We enjoyed a nice dinner and Marissa noticed Gavin barely ate any of his food. She thought "hmm, maybe he's just nervous". Our first date lasted a total of one hour. Marissa offered for Gavin to come over to meet her roommate and he kindly decline. So now Marissa is thinking "Okay, is this man interested?!". Come to find out, Gavin had the stomach bug and didn't want to cancel our first date so he tried his best to power through. The days and weeks to follow entailed more dates, more awkward conversations and a bond that neither one of us have ever experienced before.

Fourth of July weekend, Gavin and Marissa traveled to Omaha to visit some of Gavins closest friends and to see Izzys family. We drove there and much of the ride entailed questions from Marissa like "did you pack the ring? Are you proposing here? Will we be engaged by the end of the trip?" All questions Marissa shouldn't be asking in the first place haha.  We arrived to Omaha and on Sunday July 3rd, we had reservations at our favorite steakhouse J. Gilberts. Reservations were at 6:30. Just before dinner, Gavin asked Marissa to get ready a little earlier so that he could show her a place that was really special to him during his time that he lived in Omaha. Marissa of course proceeded to ask questions and asked "oh are you proposing?!" and Gavin quickly responded with "no, i'm actually doing the opposite!" and then quickly realized that wasn't what he meant haha! Marissa then knew what was happening.  The two of us went to a riverwalk in downtown Omaha where Gavin got to share more about his story and why this place was so special to him. Having spent five years in Omaha, Gavin was very familiar with the riverwalk and he knew that was where he wanted to propose. The exact spot where he proposed held many highs and lows throughout his time in Omaha and he wanted Marissa to see it prior to being engaged. After sharing a few words on the bridge above the Missouri river, we walked along the bank to a secluded spot. He shared with me about the redemption he felt in this place being there together and how he couldn’t wait to walk through the rest of life as husband and wife. He then got down on one knee and asked me to marry him! We got to spend the rest of the evening celebrating with his sister and enjoying our favorite meal in Omaha together. The icing on the cake was getting to watch all of the fireworks as a newly engaged couple!