The first time we think we met was at the 2016 ELCA Churchwide Assembly in New Orleans. Coco remembers meeting a cute, blonde guy in the registration line. Next was the time when Jacob remembers every detail of meeting Coco but in true fashion...Coco forgot. Finally, the third time is the charm. Jacob offered to help Coco and her family move some furniture into her seminary housing. Jacob knew it was the perfect way to impress Coco (even if he was slightly intimidated/nervous) and slid into her DMs to assist. It was pretty much love at first sight.

On March 5th, 2021, Coco and Jacob were preparing to host his supervisor and his family for dinner and games down in Carbondale, IL. Coco knew Jacob had a ring but had resisted searching for it all weekend. Jacob insisted on Coco changing out of a sweatshirt and leggings into a nicer shirt. Thinking nothing of it, Coco obliged and went back to prepping the cheeseboard. A few minutes later, Coco need slippers and made her way to the bedroom to find them. She noticed Jacob rummaging through a box and didn't think anything of it until he giggled and quickly got down on one knee. Coco caught him in the act! He presented her the empty ring box (hadn't even gotten the ring in it yet) and asked her to marry him. She laughed and said yes! Jacob quickly got the ring out and put it in the box and asked again. He had truly managed to surprise Coco since she knew he had the ring!