We don't know when we EXACTLY met. We went to middle school and high school together, but didn't really know each other. During our senior year, I (Michelle) starting going to Calvary Church, our home church, so Jaden and I naturally were in the same young adults group, The Mix. We also attended the same Wednesday night groups, so we got to know each other as acquaintances. In February of 2020, we both attended Financial Peace University (FPU) at church. We sat at the same table, so we would talk during small discussions. One night after class, I was at dinner with a friend, Allyson, who was also in FPU with us. She got a message from Jaden asking, "What do you think Michelle would say if I asked her to coffee?" Allyson, indiscreetly showed me the message, to which I responded, "Tell him yes?? I don't know, it's not a big deal!"..... Well we all know what happened the following month. So let's just say it was about a year before he officially asked me to coffee. January 2021, Jaden and I finally went on a coffee date to Iron and Grain, where we sat and talked for FOUR HOURS. We didn't quite know what would come of that , so we just would talk at church. We went on another date on March 6th, for a hike at Wildcat Den and a game night at a friend’s house. While playing The Voting Game, the card "Has a secret crush on someone in the room" came up, and majority voted Jaden! They were right, because from that day forward, we were spending more and more together. On April 3rd, the day before his birthday, Jaden asked me to be his girlfriend. To which I answered "Yes. Absolutely! Of course!!"

Jaden texted me in the early afternoon, asking if I was up for an Olive Garden dinner date, our favorite spot. Being the spontaneous gal that I am, I asked if we could go to OG on the Iowa side, just for a bit of change. I also asked if we could walk around the mall, to "walk off the food". In reality I was hoping we could walk off some food and glance at some rings... On our way to dinner, Jaden said he wasn't up to walking around because his knee was hurting from his workout earlier in the day. I accepted the info, a little sad, but we went to dinner and had a great time. After dinner, I asked if we could at least stop at Crumbl Cookies for some dessert! Seeming hesitant, he gave in and we made our way to get some cookies. Getting off of the I74 Bridge, Jaden said, "Let's take the long way to your house!" As we drove down River Drive, we approached the Rust Belt and noticed there was an event going on. Jaden pulled into the parking lot, in front of Iron + Grain, so we could see what was happening. While I thought we were just going to sit in the car and talk, Jaden wanted to walk around. We got out of the car, but didn't get far. In the shivering cold, outside the coffeeshop where we sat and talk for four hours on our first date, Jaden said "It's too cold to cry," got down on one knee and asked me to marry him! I don't remember how many times I said yes, but I did, and here we are now! P.S. He was so hesitant getting Crumbl because our friend, Josh, was waiting at I+G to capture the moment!!