On a Friday afternoon in late July of 2013, Michelle and Jordan met in the most unlikely of encounters.

Michelle had traveled to the Bay Area for work and was on her way to San Francisco to see friends for the weekend. Meanwhile, Jordan and his mother (best wingman ever) were getting on a train from San Jose to San Francisco to visit Jordan’s sister and Brother-in-Law who were visiting for the weekend.

Michelle noticed a tall (she couldn’t tell until he stood up), handsome man across from her on the train and feigned being lost… They exchanged pleasantries and Jordan requested her work contact information (for a friend…). As they exited the train together (Jordan had safely navigated Michelle to her destination in San Francisco), Jordan decided he should ask Michelle out.

They met at the Ghirardelli Square restaurant for drinks and conversation that Sunday before Michelle traveled back to Southern California. Time flew by that afternoon, and an ill-timed finish to the Giants game prevented Michelle from making it to her flight on-time in Oakland.

Being the gentleman that he is (and the cause for her tardiness), Jordan offered to take her to the airport later that evening in San Jose. They traveled back to San Jose where Jordan cooked her dinner and enjoyed her company while watching the 2013 Crossfit Games (romantic, we know).

Jordan was smitten and decided he needed to continue contacting Michelle and arrange for a meet up at a later date. The two began dating long distance and quickly racking up frequent flyer miles.

Eventually, Jordan convinced Michelle to move to Texas when he was discharged from active duty and returned to school to pursue a second bachelor’s degree.

The lovebirds have lived happily with one another in Austin since August 2014, and Michelle still has not lived in Texas for an entire summer…

While Michelle was away at a friend’s wedding, Jordan was hard at work fabricating a custom ring box made from a mesquite tree that he fell at his family farm. Upon completion of the box and receipt of the ring from Michelle’s family friend and jeweler, Jordan asked her mother, Fran, and her best friend, Gretel, for their blessing.

In December of 2015, Jordan and Michelle went to the Austin Trail of Lights (or Festival of Lights according to Michelle) to get into the holiday spirit (despite the 75 degree temperatures). When the time was right, Jordan got down on a knee and asked for Michelle’s hand in marriage under a sparkling tree in front of on-lookers and a festive carousel.