Back in October of 2019, we had talked about getting couples pictures done. Gabe spoke with a photographer named Kayla and scheduled it on the 21st of December. Our 8 month anniversary. Days came and went with Christmas parties, shopping and decorating the house with lights. We had decided to get the pictures taken at Ojibway Park in LaSalle because we both enjoy hiking and the outdoors. Once meeting Kayla at the park, everything seemed to be falling into place. We had gotten through about 45 minutes of photos when we had almost reached the end of the trail. Gabe had pulled me over to a little cleared area off the path. He started off by saying “Kirsten, I want you in my life forever.” And pulled the ring out of a zippered pocket in his jacket. With knowing I had met the love of my life, I said yes!

We met the way couples normally do these days - we both swiped right. Gabe initiated conversation by asking about Karma in one of Kirsten's pictures saying how cute she was. This was a Friday night that Kirsten decided to stay home and watch a movie. That Sunday evening, neither of them had plans so Kirsten quickly got ready and Gabe drove 25 minutes into the city to pick her up. Being skeptical about meeting a stranger, she had him meet her a couple blocks away at a public park so he didn't know where she lived. From there, they drove back into the county to get ice cream at a local favourite, Dairy Freez. They both can truly say that this date was different from the others they had been on. The entire date, Gabe had Kirsten laughing until tears formed in her eyes. When he dropped her off at home, she had that giddy first love feeling. That night, they arranged to see each other again the very next day.