Wellllll… About three different groups of friends on campus were trying to set Isaac and Makayla up all semester in the Fall of 2020. With a mutual friend group playing games on Monday nights, they thought they could get Makayla to come to one so she could meet Isaac. Stressed out and overloaded Makayla actually said no to this one thing every week of the semester. Then one day… Brittany Kuiper (now Tews) begged/enforced Makayla to go on a blind date. Jonah Tews was given the mission to ask Isaac the same. Makayla only agreed if it would be a double date with Brittany and Jonah, and turns out Isaac asked for the same scenario. The whole week Isaac and Makayla were investigating to figure out who it was they were going on a blind date with. The following Saturday after Makayla cheered at the basketball game and actually saw Isaac checking her out from the crowd (in a respectful manner of course) 😉 she was reassured it must be him and realized he must know that it’s her. LOW AND BEHOLD, the time came for the two blind datees to meet. The door opened to Makayla’s apartment and they both finally found out who their date for the night was. Makayla was extremely happy and so incredibly nervous she just immediately shook his hand. Isaac was a nervous little boi too, but so excited to go on a date with THE Makayla (Jacked Mak) Bjork. (On campus Makayla is known as Jacked Mak and Isaac heard of this lady the first week of campus and was immediately intimidated. She was also his lifting coach for Football Weights. But due to the times of COVID, her identity was masked. SO Isaac actually thought that this Makayla was like 3 different people… then come to find out. She’s all in one. Woah 😳) Jonah and Brittany took Makayla and Isaac to P’s Pizza in Le Mars with Bowling to follow. At the supper, Makayla and Isaac were quite quiet which was funny for Brittany and Jonah to experience because they both know how loud and talkative Makayla and Isaac are. Isaac paid for the meal and then they all headed to go bowling. During bowling, Makayla and Isaac were getting more comfortable and their personalities were beginning to show. In between turns, Brittany and Jonah would check in to see how the one liked the other 😅. After bowling, the group headed back to NWC to have a little game night. On the ride back. It was quite silent. SO, Makayla broke the silence to talk to the cute boy sitting next to her. Then the conversation began rolling. The group played code names back at the apartments and then came time to clean up for the night. Brittany and Jonah left Isaac and Makayla to be alone for a moment. Isaac utilized that moment alone to ask for Makayla’s number and Snapchat. He was so nervous it took him about 5 minutes to put her number in his phone. It was then time to say goodnight… Makayla just went right in for a hug and seemed to surprise Isaac with this goodbye. Isaac left with Jonah smiling from ear to ear. Makayla instantly collapsed in the hallway with Brittany knowing that her life was truly about to change for the better.

About 3 weeks after the blind date, Isaac asked Makayla to be his girlfriend and she gladly accepted 🥰 Well. Actually. Makayla knew this question was coming sometime and couldn’t wait… so she poked and prodded Isaac who was going to wait til the end of the night to ask but instead did it in Makayla’s timing 🤣

Isaac said “I love you” to Makayla as he hugged her right before he left from his first visit to the Bjork Farm. Makayla did not know what to say, but rather just hugged him tighter and let him know she would say it when she is ready. They then had long conversations of what “I Love You” means to the both of them. Then on the night of January 6th, Makayla gave Isaac a letter she had written and asked him, “Do you know…” then Isaac blurted out “The muffin man?!?!” They both laughed hysterically but then Makayla said, “no, silly, I was trying to say do you know that I love you?” 💗 This was the perfect laughing through tears kind of night. 🥰

Makayla had told Isaac she would tell him when she would be ready to kiss. She had told him around early to mid January that she was ready when he was. He then proceeded to keep her waiting because he thought it was fun to now see her in angst/constantly guessing/flustered. He kept teasing her and like pretending to go in for a kiss but then never would actually kiss her. One day Makayla was fed up and made a funny dramatic scene about it on the couch in her apartment with Isaac and then bada bing bada boom he pulled her in a kissed her so fast she didn’t know what was happening. 😏 And that was Isaac and Makayla’s first kiss, again on Makayla’s timing 😅

Makayla & Isaac looked at rings - showing each other which ones they liked back & forth for awhile. She had no idea Isaac already had a ring & was carrying it around in his backpack! One day he told Makayla’s roommates that he’d bought a ring & then her roommates let it slip, whoops. On Dec. 11th, Makayla & Isaac’s 1 Year Anniversary, they traveled to Sioux Falls to celebrate & just cherish a day together. Heartbreakingly, Isaac received news that his cousin’s grandma was just transported to SF after falling down her stairs, leaving Isaac & Makayla feeling terrible & even crying in stores thinking about what they must be going through. Isaac had to pull Makayla aside in the mall to help her stop crying for his cousin’s grandma & said some of the kindest words to reassure her that no matter what his cousin’s grandma would ultimately rather be in Heaven with her Lord and Savior so this could be the day she has waited for - her Father calling her home. From then on they promised to pray for Isaac’s cousin & family but continue to enjoy their day & celebrate their relationship! They did lots of shopping & had a date at Texas Roadhouse to commemorate their 1st date together. After their bellies were full, they headed to the Falls to drive through and see the Christmas lights. It. Was. Packed. Isaac pulled into a parking lot to get out & walk around. Makayla went willingly even though it was like the coldest day of the year and she was wearing a holely sweater & jeans. Because of the stark contrast in temp from the car to the crisp cold Christmasy air… Makayla HAD to pee. Isaac really wanted to go to the other side of the Falls first & insisted they do but when Makayla needs to pee then she’s got to PEE. IT WAS SO COLD. Makayla buried her hands in Isaac’s coat pockets because she could no longer feel them. Little did she know her hand was RIGHT next to the very ring that would soon be on her finger. They crossed the bridge, took a quick pic & continued shuffling and shivering. Makayla asked why Isaac wanted to go to this specific place & he said it was just because that was the lookout they had stopped at the summer before on a bike ride with Isaac’s family. Makayla didn’t think anything of it and just thought he was being weirdly sentimental. Makayla had also never been to the Falls before that & was enjoying aaaaalllllll the Christmas lights. Isaac was practically running to this lookout spot and even wanted to take a shortcut through the snow. Makayla quickly turned that down. Makayla noticed as they approached the lookout that Isaac fell silent & was shaking & shivering & slurring his words - not really making sense. She gave him a hug and asked if something was wrong… as she hugged him he was shaking even more and could hear he was crying. Makayla thought this man had hypothermia & needed to warm up but it was like a mile walk back to the car! Oh. Man. It. Was. So. Cold. Isaac pulled out of Makayla’s arms & slowly - like slower than a sloth… knelt down on one knee. *Makayla gasped* Isaac began saying all this cute stuff about how much he loves Makayla & wants to spend the rest of his life loving her & feeling her love & growing together but it really all didn’t make much sense - from the slurred speech due to the cold & the fact that he was sobbing… It was perfect. Makayla just yelled and cried and jumped (but not too high) for joy & almost tackled Isaac to give him a hug. She whispered in his ear, YES! Then out of the snowbanks & bushes came Hannah Allen (now Dueker), Colleen Rypkema, & Koralee Heynen who were taking pictures, kept people away from this specific lookout (body-guarded it basically), & had been out there since Makayla and Isaac were at Texas Roadhouse! They all celebrated together & then shuffle-ran back to the vehicles for warmth. Makayla was awestruck. Flabbergasted. In shock (from the cold or the events??? Both?). And SO in love with the man she had just said yes to forever with.