We’re getting married!

Kobe and I first met at a get-together with all the worship leaders. My first impression of him was that he was a sarcastic, sassy thing. A month later, we were put together on the same worship team at Ekklesia. At first I thought he didn't like me because of his teasing, seemingly sarcastic persona. Throughout the first couple of months that we knew each other, he tried to talk to me and get to know me but I didn't want to lead him because he was really young. He was a really funny person though and I quickly vibed with him. After the second time we led worship together, I think him and I were starting to realize, "Whoa, we really want to spend time together one-on-one." So we made a plan to hang out and he was going to take me out on this really pretty walk with his brother's golden retriever... let me emphasize that he said "walk" like on dry land, but he didn't have the code to walk on the special path he had planned. Last minute, we started driving for what seemed like forever. I had no idea where he was taking me. Once we got out of the car, we started walking and said he knew where the viewpoint was and he had hiked it previously. I had the worst shoes on. I had some bougie rainboots with no traction that I wore because I thought they were stylish. This "short" walk he had previously described to me turned into a snowy one and an hour and a half hike. I was sliding everywhere. He was sliding everywhere. The dog was sliding everywhere. We never found the viewpoint because he didn't know where he was going. What we did find was much better. We talked about family, future goals, and dreams. After that day, I realized his age didn't matter because of his life experience. I liked who he was. We drove to Chuckanut Drive at an overlook on a rainy day, the same place he later proposed, and listened to music talking about life. It was a friend date, but I could not wait to spend more time with him. That was the day I realized that I had feelings for him.

In January, Kobe adopted Miles, our golden retriever. Before we brought him home, while we went shopping for supplies, I had suggested that Kobe set up a professional puppy photo shoot for Miles. He casually said that was a good idea to have Joel, our good friend, take them. Fast forward, a month later. It was a snowy week and so many people weren't going to work because of the snow. Kobe suggested we have our winter photo shoot. Joel was free during the weekend and Kobe casually asked, last-minute if he could do it now. He really was a sneaky one. The day of, Joel and Miles and Kobe, and I had no idea where we were going. I don't think Kobe knew either. He started driving up Chuckanut drive and took us to the overlook that we first went to on our first friend date. We took photos for 20 minutes of Miles. At the end, we started taking our family photos. While we were squatting down, Kobe asked me to stand up... He asked me to marry him and I was in tears. I was not expecting it at all! I will, however, be honest, I think my initial response was a bunch of no's because I was so in shock. But once, I saw his smile (and obviously the ring), I said yes!