Like every good modern love story, Heather and Justin met on Hinge.

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We matched over a shared love of music, and conversation flowed from there. After the first date we discovered a mutual knowledge and fondness for a niche area on the far northwestern coast of Washington. Justin even inspired Heather to try surfing for the first time, as she was headed there that summer. Believe it or not, she stood up on her very first lesson!

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When Heather returned, she texted Justin, thanking him for sharing his love of surfing and inspiring her to try it and discover a new passion that ended up being very cathartic and the most joy she had felt in years.

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It took some time for their schedules to align, but Heather said she had something for Justin if he was willing to meet her. She had brought back Justin some lavender‑infused gin (one of his few vices) from a local shop in Westport. They eventually met at a local coffee shop: Atticus Coffee & Gifts. Heather thought (wrongly) this was the last time she’d see Justin and that he had moved on, and she was donning her best natural face, jeans, and a Seattle Seahawks crewneck.

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She could not have been more mistaken. When Justin breezed in, he was looking even more handsome than she had remembered and dressed very dapper in business casual.

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They both ordered and began to talk, and it was just as effortless as they both remembered. Heather gave Justin his gift, and he (surprising her) had also brought her something: A pint of her favorite flavor of ice cream: Rocky Road. He had remembered and not forgotten, which made her heart melt faster than the ice cream the longer they talked.

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What began as a quick catch up and exchange of gifts turned into hours of seamless conversation. The rest is history.

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Justin moved in with Heather in the summer of 2024, along with her miniature Australian shepherd, Jasper, being the first of her significant others to win his love and respect.

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We’ve happily settled into life in the Spokane Valley suburbs, are working toward our goals, and even added a tabby cat, Milo, to our little family last year.

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Justin proposed to Heather on 10.13.2025

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His close friend's wife, Becky, captured the moment on camera, and it was a beautiful, serene experience with signs and candid moments that felt like a surreal confirmation and being given blessings of love and support from our family no longer with us and even our ancestors, and of course the rest of our family and friends were ecstatic when we broke the news.

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We cannot be more excited to see what the future holds for us!