Johner and Lexi met in undergrad. Johner was teaching a Christian Apologetics summer course with some friends of his at Upperhouse, which serves as one of several branch locations of their church, Blackhawk, and Lexi went a few times. They became Facebook friends but didn't really talk much. If you’ve heard their story in person, you’ve probably heard Johner say “I was her professor” with a coy smile. Then, during law school (and the tail-end of Covid), Johner messaged Lexi and asked to hang out. Their first date was a bike ride in May on Military Ridge. Lexi warned Johner that he might not be able to keep up, but towards the end of the ride, it was Lexi who struggled to keep up with him during the 20 miles (per Johner). They both shared testimonies and their love for the Passion conference. Then they went mini-golfing on their second date, but Lexi decided two dates were enough and left it at that. Aka told him she didn’t know if she saw it going anywhere but they could be friends (haha). Fast forward a few months, and Johner discovered that his new random roommate was actually engaged to Lexi's roommate at the time. Awkward. As both Johner and Lexi grew closer to their roommates, the closer they became as friends to one another. The four of them had dinner together randomly and enjoyed playing games. Eventually, they were both in the same life group through church, and it was Lexi who then reached out to Johner, apparently feeling bad for ghosting him after mini-golf (Johner likes to believe). Their similar but yet vastly different humor was among many things Lexi admired in him… So much for just being friends. And as it turns out Johner must’ve started gaining feels. They started dating April of 2022. The rest is history.

Lexi knew that Johner was going to propose sometime in the winter, but that was it. While talking to her friends Zach and Taylor, they asked “how do you think he will do it?” Lexi told Zach, “I’m not sure but anything he plans I’m going to be suspicious.” And like a good bro, Zach told Johner. Without Lexi’s knowledge, Johner had begun planning the engagement in mid to late October, while Lexi was traveling for t few weeks. From November onwards, Johner planned a whole bunch of fun dates: a pottery class, a Badger basketball game, and scone making are some examples. Lexi had a watchful eye for anything proposal-y. By the end of December, Lexi figured it would probably just happen sometime early in 2024. Well, leading up to Christmas, on Saturday the 23rd, Lexi’s hospital floor happened to be over staffed. Lexi told Johner that she would likely be called-off the next day, Saturday December 23rd. A few weeks before that, Lexi also told Johner about a fun light show at Cave of the Mounds that her friend Taylor had mentioned to her. Johner said he was interested in going, so they thought that it might be fun for the two of them to go now that she didn't work! Johner bought the tickets and they went. Lexi didn't expect anything to happen since it was a very last minute plan. However, she did have one moment where she looked at Johner's pockets for a ring box but didn’t see anything, so the idea left her mind. To her amazement, Lexi left that cave ENGAGED. It turns out, Johner very strategically planned with Taylor to plant the idea of the Cave of the Mounds event in Lexi’s mind in an effort to convince Lexi it was an event she planned. This very thought through plan allowed Lexi to experience the best surprise of her life!❤️

Lexi and Johner’s relationship as stated above is clearly build on love, trust, and care for one another. But the most important thing to both of them before they started dating was their relationship with Jesus Christ. They wanted to take time here to just emphasize the gospel and how it has changed both of them. Both Lexi and Johner started truly following Jesus in college. This has shaped their mindset, spare time, friendships and romantic relationships. One of the best things about the gospel is that because Jesus came to earth to die for our sins, God fully and whole heartedly forgives us. We can be in relationship with Him, the only perfect being. Prayer is something that was been instrumental to this upcoming marriage, before they were dating, while dating as well as engaged. We are so thankful to God for his beautiful gift of salvation and would love to talk more with anyone who is curious about hearing this sometime. We plan to incorporate our Lord into this wedding and pray his peace extends to each and every guest 🤍