Brooke and I met through the dating app, Hinge, in late 2019. Although we matched, it wasn't until after a few months of exchanging messages that we officially connected in person at the beginning of 2020. Our first date wasn't very conventional to say the least. It was late January and I had asked Brooke if she'd like to join me in grabbing a few items for a costume I was needing for my mom's birthday party that evening. After hours spent goofing around in the aisles of Goodwill and Target, we eventually finished costume shopping, but I didn't want to leave, so we went and got ice cream at Ben & Jerry's. After eating ice cream, I still wasn't wanting to leave, and we ventured over to UpDown in Uptown. It wasn't until after we finished playing all the arcade games and receiving several missed calls from my family members asking about my whereabouts that we finally decided to call it a night. It seemed we both instantly were looking for the next opportunity to see each other. We'd message back and forth with ideas/activities for us to do as an excuse to spend more time together. Walks around the lake, nights out dancing, skiing with my family—we noticed we were spending more days with each other than apart…then the world stopped when COVID-19 happened. During a time in the world where connection and togetherness seemed impossible, we made it work and truthfully, I believe it strengthened our relationship. We became very intentional about making time for each other and supporting the other mentally and emotionally for all of lockdown. With everything closed, lockdown forced Brooke and I to become creative with our dates – even helped us discover new hobbies like cribbage, as well as rediscovered old ones like camping. After a while, we began sharing our “adventures” online through Instagram by cataloging our weekly dates. Brooke and I committed to 52 weeks of incredible dates and continued this tradition for the next 3 years. Over the years, especially in 2023, Brooke and I have celebrated both major team and personal milestones together. In the beginning of 2023, we adopted Kirby, a 5-year-old cat who has been such a sweetheart and a perfect addition to our lives. We moved into our first apartment together, where I was allowed to decorate one wall. Then our most recent milestone…the engagement! In December of 2023, after months of multiple drafts of a plan, a permission asking conversation with Brooke’s father, and acquiring a ring, the Hatlen family flew down to Nosara, Costa Rica for a weeklong holiday vacation. Throughout the week we explored, found wonderful food, and learned to surf—enjoying everything the vacation had to offer. On December 14, the family decided to separate for an evening so everyone could plan a date night with their partners. I had grabbed the ring from my luggage (one of twelve places I had moved it to throughout the trip to avoid a certain someone stumbling upon it) and put it in my pocket to wait for the right moment. Brooke and I went out for dinner at the Gilded Iguana, a highly recommended outdoor restaurant and bar, where we had an intimate meal and drinks. It was when we had finished dinner and were on our way to meet up with the rest of the family that the right moment presented itself. Taking a turn off our original path, I led Brooke down a road that seemed fated for the moment. No one besides the two of us, I stopped in front of the only house on the road with a porchlight on, got down on my knee, popped the question—and she said yes! This is our story -- Brooke and I are excited to commit a lifetime together and to celebrate the beginning of this journey with all of you. We hope you enjoyed learning a little about us and can’t wait to see you all soon!