Merrick and Katie are both from Ann Arbor, MI and probably passed each other at middle school basketball games without ever knowing they were passing THE ONE. They finally officially met in college at University of Michigan through the campus group University Christian Outreach. They saw each other around campus for a couple years and would hang out occasionally, and both admitted that they had always noticed the other person.

Love however, didn’t bloom until Katie’s trip to San Diego in March of 2007. Merrick had been in California for a couple months living in Orange County after graduating with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering. The two met up when a series of nursing interviews took place in San Diego. Merrick swooned her with a big stuffed puppy, driving her everywhere, fine wine, seafood and a slew of funny movies.