It all began in the warmth of a July night in 2021 — two twenty-year-olds crossing paths at a house party in Corvallis. We had each arrived with new friends, after a long evening of the kind of youthful chaos that only a college town can offer. And somehow, in the hum of conversation and music, we found each other. That night, we talked. A lot. But with a busy new school year on the horizon, neither of us was expecting to meet someone special. Still, fate clearly had other plans. Later that night, we both ended up at another party — this one conveniently close to where we both lived — and ran into each other again. It turned out we lived on the same street, just a block apart! Carson, ever confident, invited Ke’ala to sushi the next night. He pulled up in his WRX, rocking the baggiest skate pants she’d ever seen. And yet… that dinner turned out to be unforgettable. Our shared love of sushi (and our mutual curiosity) sparked something real. That first year was filled with joy: house parties, Twisted Teas, birthdays just one week apart, and late nights that turned into early mornings — always in each other’s company. After a year of laughter and learning, we took the leap to live together. It was a year of growing up — chasing dreams, learning how to adult, and supporting one another. But when Ke’ala graduated with her Master’s and Carson felt the pull of home in Newport, we made the difficult decision to take time apart and return to our hometowns. It wasn’t easy — but it was necessary. We each needed space to grow. In that time, Ke’ala set out on three solo road trips, chasing clarity and courage. Carson spent time working in his dad’s shop, reconnecting with old friends, and even traveled to New Jersey for a Subaru competition with his mentor, Josh. We both soaked up the comfort of family. But when the new year arrived, something was missing — each other. So we came back together. In May 2024, we moved into a sweet little house in Lebanon, where we started rebuilding our lives side by side. We’ve planted a garden (growing more zucchini than we could handle), adopted our sweet dog Flynn, and have spent countless nights cooking dinner, drinking beer, watching movies and anime, and playing Monopoly. Over four years, we’ve explored the world together — from Hawaii (where we got engaged!), to Las Vegas, Vail, New Hampshire, and beyond. We've danced at concerts, caught fish in the ocean, cheered each other on through degrees and milestones, and built a love that’s deep, rooted, and real. This is just the beginning. We’re so excited to spend the rest of our lives growing, laughing, and loving — together.