Tone-Lise Stenslie never intended to live in North Dakota.

She came from Norway to attend Concordia College in 1983, where she met Peder Stenslie. They liked each other, but they didn't date.

She returned the following year. Peder Stenslie, who worked at a nursing home, invited her to come talk with some of the older Norwegian natives. She came.

"I knew I needed to act, so I asked her out on a date," he said.

Both Stenslies admit that it wasn't a neat and tidy romance. They broke up a few times that year, but by May, Peder told Tone-Lise he was willing to move to Norway to be with her.

She wasn't sure. She thought about it over the summer, said yes, and then said no in November. Peder, who had been planning to make the move to Norway in December, was crushed.

In March, she changed her mind again, but he decided he didn't want to leave North Dakota after all.

For the next four years, they barely kept in touch. He visited her twice during her stay at Colorado State University, where she received her master's degree. They left each other uncertain of whether or not they could work things out.

"Goodbyes were hard," Tone-Lise said. "Every time we said goodbye, we thought it would be the last time we would see each other."

In May 1991, Tone-Lise announced that she was moving to North Dakota. She had read a book that changed her mind for good.

"It was like the universe was telling us to get our act together," she said.

They settled in Mandan partly because it was a small town, but not completely flat. Every other year they take their three children to visit Norway. Peder teaches at Mary Stark Elementary School, and Tone-Lise works part-time at ABC Deitz Wellness Center. They also run Matah Adventures, a canoe and kayak rental business.

And they keep a journal of their lives together.

"Each anniversary, we add to the saga," Tone-Lise said.