What great love story in today's day and age doesn't start with a good ole swipe right? Like many others, that's how we met. Online dating at its finest. We mutually swiped right and were chit chatting just a few days before Matthew deployed to Turkey. So online communication it was for the next 3 months. On the day of his return, Matthew made a fib that non-family members couldn't be on the flightline for their return for fear of the first meet being awkward. So instead, Grace went and picked up ramen bowls to-go and met Matthew at his apartment. All first dates should start with sweatpants at home and takeout in our opinion. It worked out great for us.

We'd like to say yes. There is an ongoing rolling tease about how Grace "friend-zoned" Matthew for a few weeks. That showed her, huh? She came back around and finally accepted his offer to be in a formal relationship. Just a few weeks later, Matthew dropped the first "I love you" in the parking lot on their way to their cars to go to work. The rest is history (or their future.)

Mexico baby! That's right. Grace had planned a graduation celebration trip to Cancun Mexico in the summer of 2022. Amongst all the touristy things was a session with a photographer on the beach. Matthew found this as a great opportunity to pop the question. Although Grace had been hinting at it for weeks prior and had definitely seen the outline of the ring box in his pocket all evening. She still cried though. It was a win, win!