Jessie's Viewpoint: You know how FaceBook suggests friends based off the friends you have in relation to its algorithm? Well, Zachary, a Troy Mills boy was one of those suggestions during the November timeframe of 2020. ...Just a suggestion... About a month later, January 2021, I saw this same boy from FB in person in a group setting at New Covenant Church. I recognized him as the FB suggestion and thought, "Ok, he's from Troy Mills and he farms. Cool. But he's probably like all the other guys". Then, another month later, one evening as I was leaving New Covenant Church with friends, a couple guys said hello and introduced themselves. One of them this same boy from Troy Mills. This young man before me offered a handshake and said "Hi. I'm Zach Blair." And so it began. I found out more about him, his passion for farming, more about his life and was amazed to see his gentleness and interest in getting to know me. Zach later asked for my number and asked me on a date, early February 2021. Then, we just never stopped dating. 😊 Zach's Viewpoint: I met Jessie at a young adult gathering called The Porch. It was a Tuesday night gathering at New Covenant Bible Church in Cedar Rapids. A few months prior to meeting Jessie in person a friend of mine had come across her profile on facebook and suggested I reach out to her. This friend had mentioned that Jessie had cows in her facebook cover photo which indicated a heart for agriculture. Additionally, she appeared to be single. Rather than reach out to her I decided to wait and felt that if our paths were meant to cross the Lord would make it happen. Fast forward a few months later and sure enough our paths crossed at The Porch. After seeing her in person 3 or 4 times I got up the nerve to ask her for her number and ask her on a date. The rest is history.

Jessie's Viewpoint: On my birthday Zach and I went to Illinois to spend the day looking around at shops. It was a warm winter day, making it a pleasant experience meandering through the streets of the old city. We also planned to stop back on our way through Dubuque at the Mines of Spain park, a special spot where Zach and I had hiked a few times earlier in the year. Dubuque and the nearby borders of Illinois and Wisconsin have always been near to my heart, as its location is where family had occupied and traveled through many, many years ago. It is an area rich with history and exciting stories just waiting to be uncovered. Thankfully, we arrived at the Mines of Spain just in time, with day-light (barely) but still remaining. While walking through the valley on the snow covered path, Zach knelt and proposed. The ring and rocks in the background looked perfect. The man in front of me, a true blessing and gift from the Lord. It is a memory I will always cherish. A birthday doubled as our engagement!!!! ☺️ Zach's Viewpoint: I remember the evening before Jessie's birthday as if it happened yesterday. We were planning to spend the day in Galena visiting shops, eating good food and making new memories. I had gone back and forth on when the best day to propose would be. Would a proposal on her birthday be too expected? Or would she not expect it at all? After sleeping on it I decided to take the ring along for the journey and see what the day brought. Throughout the day my main focus was on the right opportunity to propose, rather than on Galena. As our time in Galena began to wrap up, the sun was beginning to set. Earlier in the day we had mentioned the possibility of stopping at the Mines of Spain on our way home. On the way back we decided to make the stop. After a short walk the location and timing felt right, so I proposed.