Alex and Emily connected on Hinge (online dating app) on March 17th at 10:35am when Alex sent the first message. Emily was wearing a Young Life Castaway Club sweatshirt in one of her pictures and Alex said, "Looks like you've been to one of my favorite places." Alex and Emily quickly connected over their passion for the ministry of Young Life, Alex serving with college students in the Twin Cities, and Emily with high schoolers in Richfield.

Alex and Emily met at The Block in St. Louis Park for drinks after work on a drizzly Thursday. There was a wide breadth of conversation and connection and the two were eager to set up another date. Date #2 followed shortly after with brunch (don't call it brunch if you talk to Alex, he insists it's breakfast OR lunch) at Nolo's, a walk at the Stone Arch, and coffee at Spyhouse in Northeast.

A few weeks later, Alex asked Emily, "What did you think of me when you walked into our first date?" Emily answered, "Loved that you got us a table and didn't stand at the door for me. Happy you stood up to hug me. Knew I wouldn't be watching the clock or wishing it was over." A rule in their relationship is that if you ask a question you should also be prepared to answer it yourself. Alex's answer was, "I thought you were very pretty. You weren't too tall. And you had fantastic answers. Thought out. Long winded. To the questions I asked. And I liked that. A lot." Emily shot back, "That's me. Long winded." To which Alex reassured, "But that's what I liked. Not a bad thing. It told me you were smart. Liked conversation. Were not scared of talking. Honestly one of the biggest turnoffs for me is not being able to have a good conversation. And you passed with flying colors."

The best snow day a teacher could ask for! Here is Emily's account of the proposal. On April 7, 2022 we went on our first date. Alex and I started to end a night by saying a "last word" text. Someone got the final word for the evening and would send an endearing message, sweet compliment, or a dream for our future. On our 15th date (I keep good records), Alex and I were sitting on a swinging bench at Centennial Lakes and he was eager to play me a new song he had heard, "You Get It All" by Hayes Carll. He assured me he wasn't ready to commit to the lyrics yet, but the idea is that "you get it all" - the highs and lows of life. All my cards are on the table and darlin' it's your call But I'm all in, so lose or win, you get it all All my blessing, all my curse, all my better, all my worse From the chapel to the hearse, you get it all As we were listening to the song on the swing, we witnessed a couple's proposal. In October, I bought my music-adoring boyfriend the Hayes Carll "You Get It All" album on vinyl. We love to dance and often play records. I was going to give Alex the album for Christmas but decided I had enough gifts for him and would save it as a surprise when he proposed to me. December 21 was a snow day for this special ed teacher. I was in my pajamas until 5pm. Alex and I had planned to go to a Christmas service at church but it was cancelled due to the snow storm. This gave us an open night to celebrate Christmas, just the two of us. "I got a haircut and I'm wearing a nice sweater!" Alex told me on the phone. "Fine, I'll shower." I replied. We went to dinner at Buster's on 28th in the neighborhood and came back to my house to open gifts. After exchanging gifts, Alex got up and grabbed an envelope, "Oh and I have this card for you!" The enveloped was written to "Emily Madsen.” The card depicted a winter scene with a person skiing. "Ah, it's gotta be a note for ski lessons!" I thought. Opening the card proved otherwise. Inside Alex had handwritten "last words" that he had sent me over the course of us dating. "You are sweet, and I'm excited to go on adventures with you." "I love coming into your world. I'm excited to meet your family and introduce you to mine. You are awesome babe." "Emily Karen Madsen, you are funny, smart, kind, thoughtful. Life is better with you. I still can't imagine not meeting you April 7th. Answer to prayer." Still mostly clueless, I read the last note, "Emily, I could go on and on. Simply - I love you so much. I can't wait to do the rest of life together, you get it all. Will you have it all? Love, Alex." With a quizzical look, I stared at my boyfriend as he got off the couch, got down on one knee and took my dream ring out of his pocket. After 15 seconds of tears, hands over my face, and exclaiming, "No this can't be real” I uttered a confident YES and gave my fiancé a big squeeze! We are unbelievably happy, grateful for God's faithfulness, and eager for this next season in our lives!