A seemingly infinite series of coincidences ultimately led Aaron and Anna to Warner Robins, GA in the summer of 2019. Aaron was completing a clinical rotation for school alongside a classmate, Maci, who is one of Anna's best friends from undergrad. A little coercion and pestering convinced Maci to arrange a double date for them to meet at a local bar. "Who is Auburn playing this week?" was the code phrase to end the date and get Anna out of there. Needless to say, nobody wanted to talk about Auburn football. Aaron ended up moving to Chattanooga, TN, and for a while, it seemed like there was no future for the two of them, but God had other plans. The two realized that they were called by God to be there for each other forever, to be everything the other needed, and to live out the sacrament of marriage.

"Anna had been making little comments for weeks about when I was finally going to propose. She was under the impression that it would not happen until the fall of 2021, but it ended up coming much sooner. On July 3rd, I pulled a few friends off to the side at a party and asked if they could invite us to brunch after Mass the next day. The plan was to park on the north side of the Chattanooga walking bridge and have the plans change at the last second, causing us to have to walk across the bridge to another restaurant. As I got out of my truck and slid the ring into my front pocket, she made a sarcastic joke about how long it was taking me to propose. As the plans changed, she wanted to drive across the bridge to the restaurant, but I insisted we walk. The farther we went, the more agitated she became since her feet were hurting, it was hot outside, and the drive would have been much easier. Suddenly, I asked her to give me her hand. She said "No! I'm mad at you" as she grinned and continued to walk. Again, I asked her to give me her hand and was met with a droll refusal. Finally, I took her hands and asked her to marry me, and she did not think I was serious until I dropped to one knee and pulled the ring out from my pocket. A few hidden people took pictures and the rest of the day was spent with excited phone calls to inform equally surprised friends and family." -Aaron