It all began on the early morning of July 25th, 2020, when Shawn—camping with his family at Olema Campground and decided to send a message on Instagram that would change everything. He took a chance and wrote, “Hey, I’m not sure I’ve ever met you… but you are absolutely beautiful.”

It wasn’t until September 23rd that she finally agreed to meet up. Their first date was on October 3rd, 2020, at Bodega Head on the pier side—and Shawn showed up prepared. He had remembered every single food, dessert, and drink she had ever mentioned loving… and brought them all. They spent hours talking and connecting in a way that felt like the start of something truly special.

Just a few weeks later, on November 4th, she made the first move and asked him to be her boyfriend. All of this happened in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic—a time of uncertainty, distance, and change. While the world was shutting down, Shawn was deep in paramedic school, balancing intense coursework, clinicals, and the unpredictable rhythm of life in healthcare. Somehow, in the midst of all that chaos, they found comfort, laughter, and love in each other.

From there, their relationship only grew stronger. They supported one another through, school, career change, family loss, moving, and all the highs and lows that life threw their way. They have spent many of their days in the outdoors going camping, paddle-boarding, walks through the redwoods and overall with friends and family.

On September 29th, 2023 they moved into their first home together—lovingly calling it The Cabin.

A few years later, Shawn proposed at Doran Beach on April 27th, 2025. Now, they’re building a beautiful life in Forestville with their fur baby, Stella Ann.
And the rest, as they say, is just the beginning.