I usually say, “We met on Match” and Robin likes to add, “But it was really a divine match.” We met in the summer of 2016 and had so much fun together! We got to know each other while talking for hours on end. In fact, our second date was at the Folklife Festival in Seattle. We watched my climbing partner Ken play with his Japanese Taiko drum group. Afterwards we shared an ear of fire roasted corn and sat on a cement bench and talked for 5 straight hours and really connected. When we talked about scheduling our next date Robin said, “I’m free Thursday or Saturday.” And I said “To be honest, I’d like both.” On a side note, Robin was all business at work, so we wouldn’t even hold hands within a few blocks of the Nordstrom offices in Seattle. We’d sneak away and get lunch together. One day we were across the street from her building and looking for a place for a quick goodbye smooch so we ducked into the Hyatt hotel lobby. Just inside the doors is an elevator bank, so we’d go there often, and we called it “our office”. Our courtship continued with time spent going to concerts, restaurants, walking along the Sound, running, cooking, and meeting each other's friends and family, making for a great first year together.

The following year we went on vacation to Whistler Canada for a week in August. We had such a fantastic time running, riding, hiking, swimming, and of course, eating, and just being together. The drive down from Whistler is breathtaking, with lakes, rivers, trees, blue sky, picturesque snow capped mountains everywhere. Just a little ways into the drive, Shotgun Rider by Tim McGraw came on the radio. I’d heard the song many times and knew the lyrics, but there was something different this time. I heard him singing that he didn’t ever want anyone else in that seat beside him, and I looked over and saw Robin sitting there all beautiful, sweet, loving, supportive and I thought to myself, “NO! I don’t ever want anyone else beside me.”

Often when we get home from something fun and we’re getting out of the car, one of us will say, “I had a great time. I’d really like to see you again.” As if it’s still our second or third date. Robin will often look at me and say, “Would you like to be my boyfriend?” She always says it in a really innocent way, like it’s the first time she’s ever said it and we’re in kindergarten. I knew I was going to propose. I’d been thinking about it for awhile and thinking about different ways. In a perfect world, I would have proposed at a Tim McGraw concert while he was singing Shotgun Rider. But Robin is surprisingly shy, so most of the ideas didn’t pan out. Robin had recently told Sharon, her sorority sister, that her favorite place to eat was actually at home with me. Robin called me in the afternoon and asked if I wanted her to pick anything up from the store and I said, “No, I’ve got it”. I stopped at the Pike Place Market on the way home from work to get the ingredients for a very special dinner. I made: Halibut (her favorite) oven roasted in parchment, topped with a nectarine, bell pepper, and cilantro salsa. Pan roasted romanesco (it’s a cross between cauliflower and broccoli, but with fractals!) topped with a tahini dressing. And pan seared leeks, I call them Land Scallops (long story). It was really delicious and extra special and looked amazing. You can see the dinner on the photos page. After dinner I said we should go sit out on the deck, which we love to do, and enjoy the last of the summer weather. It was a little cool, so I grabbed a blanket and we sat snuggled up together on the love seat. I told her how I loved her and appreciated her and really enjoyed our life together. Then I paused a second and said, “Would you like to be my girlfriend?” And she said, “Yes.” Then I paused again and said, “Would you like to be my wife?” And she giggled for about 30 seconds and then she said, “Yes!”

Over the last three years, we have grown as individuals and as a couple. We realize and cherish how much value each of us adds to the other. We often say to one another how much we appreciate that we are ultimately, “Better Together”. Our lives together began by developing an amazing friendship, experiencing exciting adventures, travel, exploring the beautiful Pacific Northwest, finding a new church home at OCC, and treasuring the extraordinary in life’s ordinary moments. We could not be more excited about what lies ahead and are so grateful to share in our future with each of you. What a gift that we call our family our friends and our friends our family. We thank you for being part of our lives!