We grew up going to the same church and knew of each other all throughout middle school and high school. But it wasn't until our senior year of high school where we really started getting to know each other and became very close friends. Our admiration and deep respect of each other continued to grow and we both had a clear, instinctive feeling that this was something really special. Friendship turned to a crush and a crush turned into more until on February 4, 2018, we became official! That whole day we had been at two family Super Bowl parties awkwardly fumbling around with how to introduce each other to our family friends, so it seemed like a conversation needed to be had. When James dropped Kaitlin off that night, she hugged him goodbye on her driveway and literally felt his heart pounding through his shirt. She had a feeling what he was about to ask next;) We were best friends first and are thankful to be best friends forever.

Kaitlin's dream school always had been Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. So when James was recruited to play football there and he called Kaitlin in Fall 2017 (as a friend) to tell her he was committing, she couldn't help but feel like God had orchestrated this whole master plan, long before they even knew, for their paths to align. Sure enough, she was accepted into the school in March 2018 and they were able to spend the next 4 years attending the same college together. It is the most massive blessing to share such a tight knit community at home and to also have built such an incredible community in our college town...all together! Our people know us both so well and we will forever be grateful for that. From high school graduation to college graduation, we learned SO much together. We grew up together! Through it all, it became more and more evident that neither of us pictured a single day of our future without the other in it. So, after graduation we moved back home and prepared to take the next step!

For one of our weekly date nights, we went to San Clemente State Park for sunset. With blankets and chairs in hand, we walked along the bluffs to the very edge, overlooking the most expansive ocean view. As we stood there and took in the view, James asked to take a picture together. I (Kaitlin) leaned in for the picture and immediately felt his heart pounding through his shirt...just like that night, at 17 years old, on my driveway. I knew what was coming next:) James got down on one knee and asked me to marry him and it was the happiest, most surreal moment of our LIFE. The easiest yes ever! We celebrated with family that night and with SO many of our loved ones the next day at an amazing surprise engagement party. We could not have dreamt of a better weekend. James CRUSHED it<3

We couldn't possibly be more excited to spend forever together and to celebrate that commitment alongside all of our most favorite people. This day will be a dream come true for us and a true answer to prayer. Let the countdown begin!