2020 was the start of Covid... and love! At the end of 2020, Lyndsie and Paul found each other through a dating app. They connected over a variety of topics: recycling, running, and dogs. After two months of texting and Facetiming, they had their first in-person date at Outside Coffee Co. On their first date, Paul was a nervous wreck. Having already been through all of the traditional first date material during their Facetime chats, Paul struggled to think of normal conversation. Instead, he made up names and backstories of all the passing dogs that he saw. Although Lyndsie found this odd, she decided to give him another chance. The rest of that week, they spent everyday together cooking, talking, and playing ping pong. After seeing each other for a few weeks, Paul tested positive for Covid. Lyndsie followed a few days later. She spent the next two weeks quarantining at Paul’s house, which would prove to be their first true test (spoiler, it worked out). They started 2021 in better health and spirits. They continued to go on dates at new coffee shops around Grand Rapids every week. On one of these dates, Paul got a text message about a bernedoodle puppy that needed a new home: Belle. Paul and Lyndsie started getting their coffee to-go with Belle to discover new parks and hiking trails. After 6 months of dating, Paul wrote Lyndsie a note declaring his love for her. This prompted Lyndsie to say “I love you” (first), signifying the start of a deep connection between the two. As the years went by, they shared monumental life accomplishes together: Lyndsie graduated from GVSU with a degree in Natural Resources Management and got a full-time parks job through Kent County. They moved in together and rescued a second bernedoodle named Frankie. Paul switched jobs to work at Padnos Recycling. Finally, on July 5, 2024 Paul mustered up the courage to ask Lyndsie to spend their lives together. She said yes.