We're so excited to celebrate with you!

Dillon and I were re-acquainted after a Sunday Mass at Blessed Sacrament Church in Wichita, Kansas over Christmas break in 2020. Being recently off a dating fast, and knowing Dillon was a good Catholic man, I was very happy when I saw he had came over to talk to my brother after mass. I approached them and quickly his attention shifted over to me - we enjoyed talking briefly. After, I was excited to say yes after he asked me on a date - and eagerly wanted to squeeze in a few more dates before I returned to Louisiana as a college campus missionary! Excitement filled us both as we decided to embark on a long-distance relationship and expectant hope remained that we would eventually live in the same city. At Linnebur Electric, where Dillon worked, I was appropriately nicknamed "Air Traffic Control," as there was more than one occasion where Dillon's flights were delayed or canceled, which meant we would get more time together before the inevitable departures. We traveled hundreds of miles to spend a few short days together, building our relationship on sacrifice and communication (and lots of FaceTime). Dillon and I both grew up in the Wichita area (he's west side, but I try not to hold that against him). I was raised by the Blessed Sacrament Parish and Dillon at St. Peter's parish in Schulte, KS. Although we both attended Wichita State University, our paths only crossed briefly there - five years prior to us re-acquainting in 2020. (We later found out that we attended the same wedding when I was 9 years old and he was 14)! We attest our encounter that Sunday to God's providence as we'd both prayed for our Vocation for years.

After all of those FaceTime dates, we were thrilled to integrate our lives and both moved to Edmond, Oklahoma. Dillon became an HR recruiter at Vesta Foundations (thank you to all who helped to make this possible) and I became the Team Director with the Fellowship of Catholic University Students at the University of Central Oklahoma (thank you to all my mission partners). On October 22, 2021, the feast of St. John Paul II, after months of discernment, discussion, and learning to harmonize as we grew in love, Dillon asked me to embark on the noble pursuit of marriage. Everyone in Myriad Gardens in downtown OKC could hear my squeal of excitement as I responded to his proposal, “YES!!” Little did I know there would be a series of surprises to follow. Dillon then drove to the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help where we prayed in thanksgiving and had the rings blessed by Fr. Jerome Krug. This cathedral holds a special place for us… months before even knowing Dillon, I attended mass there and prayed to Our Lady that I would marry a man who was formed by a priest like the one who was giving the homily (little did I know then that this priest was Dillon’s very best friend – Fr. Jerome). Now years later we were in awe of the providence that led us to this sacred space again. As we sang out our excited emotions to “Marry You” and “White Dress” in the car, Dillon drove to the culminating surprise. He took me to my home in Edmond, explaining that he wanted to share this moment with my roommates. Little did I know he had invited both of our families and very close friends from Wichita to come down and share in our joy! We enjoyed dancing, music, family, friends, food, and celebrated the reality of hope of an even greater day yet to come!