Mark had just finished his first week of medical school and was headed to Christian Freed’s house for vespers. Little did he know that he would soon meet someone very special. Mark and Jessica exchanged customary “how-do-you-do’s,” but what caught his attention was Jessica’s invitation to a Sabbath afternoon activity. The pediatric cancer patients were going to move into Loma Linda’s new hospital and the pediatrics department wanted to fold towels into animal shapes to welcome them. What a virtuous woman! Later that evening after everyone had left, Christian’s older brother, Spencer, sat across from Mark with a sly smile. “So, what did you think about your future wife?”

Unbeknownst to Mark and Jessica, multiple individuals were working behind the scenes to try and bring them together. Adam, Christian and Spencer’s cousin, approached Mark at the beginning of medical school, offering to set him up on a blind date. After passing the first block of exams, Mark said “yes” to Adam’s offer. Jessica was attending a birthday party when Adam asked her the same question. Adam was her classmate, but she didn’t know this would-be matchmaker from… well… Adam. Perhaps providentially, Annalise (Jessica’s close friend who was dating Christian and later would marry him) was sitting across the table and said the mysterious guy was a “gentleman” who either way could be a good friend. Jessica ended up telling Adam “yes” as well. A few weeks later, Mark found himself outside of Jessica’s house with a packet of manila envelopes from Adam. As the two shy medical students opened the envelopes, they found instructions for a series of fun adventures set up by Adam and Spencer. From guessing each other’s favorite popsicle flavor, to challenging “the banana man” at cornhole, they found themselves opening up as they laughed and chatted.

After many walks and deep conversations, they began to develop feelings for one another. Mark put these sentiments and his desire to get to know one another more intentionally onto paper and produced what they now term, “The Document.” One brisk morning before church, Mark and Jessica took a walk around her neighborhood. All was at peace, except Mark’s heart. His throat tightened and he stumbled over his words as he described his feelings for Jessica. Not surprisingly, she agreed to continue getting to know him better. Mark was very proud of this document. After all, it had footnotes and an appendix! A couple days later, Jessica sent the document back with edits. A smile pulled at the edges of Mark’s eyes as he realized they spoke the same language.

After seven months of dating, Mark decided it was time to make things official. The two drove down to Point Loma Nazarene University and found their way to one of Mark’s favorite spots - the prayer chapel. At the beginning of medical school and several times since he had come here to pray. Mark asked Jessica to be his girlfriend and of course, she said yes. Together, the pair knelt, prayed, then wrote prayers for each other and hid them inside one of the cushions. Unbeknownst to Jessica, Mark slipped a third piece of paper in with the two others - a secret note if you will. More on that later =)

Over the next year, the two settled into dating life. Weekend meal prep sessions, impromptu trips to the beach, and study sessions where Mark tried not to be distracted by Jessica’s cuteness. However, long before meeting Jessica, Mark had agreed to do his final two years of medical school in Kettering, Ohio as it was close to his family in Michigan. Jessica matched into pediatrics at UC Davis in Sacramento, California, which meant a new and not-so-wonderful stage: long distance. There were many ups and downs during those long months. However, through Facetime, long letters, and intermittent in-person visits, the two continued to grow even closer and became more convinced they wanted to be together for life.

This was a watchword that guided the two throughout their relationship. Mark’s parents gave the pair a collection of 261 questions that they had used when they did premarital counseling for other couples. As you can imagine, it took them quite some time to get through all of them. What made these questions so helpful was the breadth of important topics they covered like spirituality, moral standards, career/finances, raising children, etc. Mark’s parents warned that they were meant to elicit differences and potential red flags and the two had lively discussions that allowed their relationship to be accountable to something higher than fleeting feelings (as wonderful as they may be). There were other small miracles that God worked throughout their relationship. Whether it was flights that aligned perfectly to allow them to spend an extra day together, or the Masters program Mark was interested in becoming online for the first time this year which would allow them to get married and spend their first year together, He was beyond faithful.

After all of this, it was time to move closer yet again. Mark and his family planned to spend a week of vacation in Tahoe with Jessica. However, Mark had a special adventure in store for the both of them. The day started out with Jessica picking up Mark at a hotel by the airport. But to Jessica’s surprise, they drove right back to the airport and got on a plane down to…San Diego! The pair were returning to the very chapel they had gone to two years before…and the secret written note! They entered the chapel and with beating hearts unzipped the cushion they had stashed the prayers in…they were still there! Jessica looked puzzled at the third paper, which she didn’t remember placing inside. Boy took a knee, girl shed a tear. The secret note was revealed, “6/14/2022… Marry Me?” Girl said “yes”, boy teared up. Now, you’re invited to join them as they start the next part of their journey together: marriage.