From the moment Jesse and Kendra first met, they knew something was special about the other person. It was June 2011 when Jesse and Kendra met through some mutual friends at a get-together. They instantly connected, laughing and enjoying each other's company. Kendra was smitten with Jesse's crooked, goofy smile while Jesse was fascinated by Kendra's eyes (ok, it was actually her butt). Jesse asked for Kendra's number and Kendra wrote it on her business card, shyly giving it to Jesse. They were soon to go out on their first date on June 14th, with Jesse picking Kendra up and taking her out to the rooftop deck at Duke's on Alki for a romantic evening. It was the evening before one of Kendra's triathlons. After the triathlon, Kendra called Jesse, while he was out to breakfast with his close friends, to excitedly exclaim to Jesse about her recent accomplishments at the triathlon. With that phone call, Kendra and Jesse both realized that they were quickly becoming close friends and very interested in each other. The second date was soon to come, culminating in their first kiss. "I have always heard stories about people feeling fireworks at their first kiss, and fireworks it truly was with Jesse!" Kendra mused. "I knew then and there that he was "the one"."
Jesse and Kendra continued to date, enjoying getting to know each other well. Jesse eventually moved in with Kendra, later that fall, combining their family of two cats and two dogs. Kendra got to experience Jesse's love of camping and four wheeling his Land Cruiser, while Jesse watched Kendra enjoy playing soccer, doing triathlons, running, and working as a physical therapist.
In late 2014, tragedy was to strike with Kendra being diagnosed with breast cancer. Jesse remained stoic, standing strongly at her side, assisting her through the trials and tribulations of cancer treatments. Through this hardship, Jesse and Kendra grew strong together.
Jesse and Kendra had talked about moving out of Des Moines to find their dream home. One evening, in early November of 2016, Jesse and Kendra simultaneously came across an online MLS listing for a gorgeous new home in Peshastin. Curious of the possibilities and potential of this new home, Jesse and Kendra checked it out over Thanksgiving weekend. They instantly knew that they were in love with the place, soon to become its new homeowners. On January 20th, 2017, Jesse and Kendra officially closed on their new Peshastin dream home. Driving over a snowy pass, they were eager to get the keys and walk into their new home together. Upon entering, Jesse got down on one knee, slid the key ring containing their new house keys onto Kendra's finger, and proposed. "Are you being serious?!? Because I will say yes if you're being serious, Jesse" exclaimed Kendra in shock and excitement. Jesse, of course was serious and Kendra, of course, said yes...