Nathan and Alexa met at Bible study in August of 2023 as they both embarked on their law school journey. (Actually, it's entirely likely that Alexa and Nathan met sooner but they don't remember meeting for the first time.) Through their first semester of law school, they became friends at weekly Bible study. Nathan's friends and Alexa's friends joined forces at the end of the first semester and the two started seeing each other more often. At the beginning of the second semester, Nathan started to take a deeper interest in Alexa. The two began to eat more lunches together in the Notre Dame commons, started playing co-ed volleyball in a league together, and bowled for the same team. Through volleyball and the law school bowling league, Nathan and Alexa saw more of each other's humor, skills (or lack thereof--Alexa really cannot bowl that well), and personality. The two also learned more about each other's beliefs and values through deeper conversations at Bible study and random encounters. The tipping point for Nathan and Alexa was a performance of Mozart's Requiem. A mutual friend sang in the choir at the performance and both planned to attend. Nathan planned not to attend the day-of (I know, wow) and Alexa convinced him to come. The two sat together the entire performance and really never stopped talking to each other after. Between shared Masses, conversations about theology, and all these sporting activities, Nathan and Alexa began to see each other as more than friends. Nathan asked Alexa out on their first date the Saturday before Easter. They went to the Public House restaurant in Mishawaka for their first date and enjoyed a long drive together afterwards. Their second date was to the South Bend Chocolate Company where they had coffee and took turns destroying each other in intense games of Uno. This date was followed by a long walk in some windy South Bend weather. Nathan and Alexa officially began dating on April 10, 2024. Alexa has always loved Nathan's musical abilities (he plays both piano and organ), his intellect (a math major, he can always do the taxes for the family), and his kind-hearted nature (his small town roots make him an easy friend). Nathan has always loved Alexa's competitive nature, intellect (she loves reading and all things political philosophy), sass (she is not always so sweet), and love of the Lord. Nathan and Alexa got engaged on November 7, 2024--Alexa's birthday. Nathan made sure it was a surprise, making dinner plans for her birthday well in advance. Alexa thought he hadn't asked her dad to marry her yet (turns out, he had done so three weeks before) and expected nothing but a lovely dinner with her favorite person. Nathan took Alexa out to a park before dinner, telling her they were just going on a walk recommended by some mutual friends. After a beautiful sunset stroll through the autumn trees of southern Michigan, they came upon a small river and dock. Alexa went up on the dock to look around and when she went to turn around to tell Nathan how beautiful the scenery was, he was on one knee ready to propose! 2024 involved many milestones for Nathan as he converted to Roman Catholicism this year too! He has been attending Mass at St. Stanislaus with Alexa since they started dating. Nathan and Alexa are finishing their second year of law school as an engaged couple and having fun planning every part of their wedding until then. They hope you can join them for their wedding Mass and reception in August of 2025! St. Augustine, pray for us! (Nathan's patron saint) St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, pray for us! (Alexa's patron saint) + Holy Family, pray for us +