Our journey began 10 years ago as freshmen at Oregon State University, where we met in Weatherford Hall. A simple walk to a coffee shop set everything in motion—but not without Kendall playfully putting Brian through what she calls a "lengthy interview process." Unsurprisingly, he passed with flying colors.

After graduation, Brian was offered a job in racing in North Carolina. Taking a leap of faith, we moved across the country together, building a life, growing our careers, and nurturing our hobbies along the way. Our little family also expanded with Lacy, our beloved black lab, and Maddie, Kendall’s horse—both of whom many of you have seen featured in our Christmas cards.

Then, in 2024, we took a trip to the Florida Keys—where Brian had something special planned. On our way down, he booked a night in Kendall, FL (a fun coincidence, or so Kendall thought). The next morning, he suggested brunch at an upscale bistro that required formal attire. But first, we had to make a quick stop—Brian conveniently "forgot" to pack socks, and luckily, a Nordstrom Rack was within walking distance (an easy sell for Kendall!).

On our way to the store, we came across a beautiful pond with fountains and a bridge. As we got closer, we realized it was a love lock bridge—another coincidence? We continued walking across, reminiscing about our time in Paris where we had once placed a love lock on a similar bridge. Then Brian stopped at the center, took a deep breath, and dropped to one knee.

And the rest, as they say, is history!