EJ and Kate met like most millennials: in a pandemic on an app, but this romance is far from conventional. It took the world pausing and a delicious home-cooked dinner for this couple to find their way to each other. EJ and Kate enjoyed an evening filled with never ending conversation– from the Enneagram to systemic injustice, and even past trauma and video games. Love at first sight rarely happens in our day and age, but that’s what occurred. The day after their first date, Kate exclaimed to her family, “This is it! I found the man I’m going to marry.” And EJ called his close friend to ask him, “How soon after meeting your wife did you know she was ‘the one?’ Because I think I found her.”

The beginning months were beautiful and filled with fun summer nights and travels to a few of Colorado’s best hiking trails. Each grew in love and learned to trust each other. When Kate met Otis, it was kismet from the jump. They went on a hike around Evergreen Lake and began to see a future as a family. As Kate was leaving that afternoon, Otis shouted, “I love you!” Kate replied in kind and the beginning of a magical relationship between two Libra risings took off.

This love story doesn’t come without adversity. After Kate moved in, Otis’s other parent refused to allow Otis to spend time with EJ and Kate for over 5 months. Taken the week of Christmas, it took several months of navigating the court system to finally bring their family back together again. It is still the hardest time in their relationship, and their lives. While the trauma from being torn apart without reason is slowly healing, they carry the lessons (and the legal fees) from that time period forward. They were able to experience depths of emotion and turmoil together, and support each other through it. If Kate and EJ can survive, and truly thrive, through something so horrendous, imagine what they can do when the road is smooth.

In June of last year, after being reunited with Otis, Kate and EJ got engaged! While Kate was away, EJ and Otis decorated the living room with hundreds of twinkling lights and prepared the same dinner the couple ate on their first date. When Kate returned, EJ asked for her hand in marriage, and Otis asked for her to be their stepmom. She enthusiastically said yes to both. Kate loves EJ’s sexy guitar playing, profound support of her ministerial callings, his delicious/healthy meals, and how phenomenal a dad he is. EJ loves Kate’s beautiful singing voice, her bravery, activism, truth-telling, and the amazing parent that she is for Otis. They are both elated to have found their soulmate: someone to stand in the fire with, and explore the natural world with. Thank you for celebrating their unconventional love story and union!