Like, really cute. We were both invited to a swing dance hosted by some of our friends in Friley. We ended up dancing together for a few songs, and I couldn't stop thinking about her. We had a lot of mutual friends with Salt company, the campus ministry at Iowa State, and formed a strong friendship surrounded by people who would become our closest friends. I asked her on a few dates, we had a lot of great conversations, and I eventually asked her to be my girlfriend. Since then, our relationship has consisted of lots of new board games (I win sometimes), adventures (lots of hammocking), spending time with family and friends, and pushing each other in our walks with Christ.

On Christmas Eve, Matthew and I came up to Ames for a "special date night" and to go to Christmas Eve service at Cornerstone Church. After we had gone to church we went back to my apartment and made dinner and were dancing around the kitchen. I had asked Matthew if we were doing anything else that night or if we were just going back to Bondurant, with which he replied that we were just going home. After cleaning up we headed out and were driving down Lincoln Way, which runs right next to campus. Matthew then pulled into campus and parked next to Lake LaVerne and told me he had one more gift for me that night. We walked around the lake talking about memories from last year and then at the last lamplight he stopped and took out a box. On the top of the box was a 3D printed version of the start tile to our favorite game, Carcassonne, that he had designed and printed himself. He told me he wanted it to be our start piece for forever and then told me to take off the top. He got down on one knee and before he could say anything I shouted "YES!" He chuckled and then asked me to marry him and the rest is history.