To plow me right out of my comfort zone, I am marrying the dreamiest of a guy who does not want to miss out on “any one wedding experience”. Apparently wedding website falls into that category… we are doing this! So here, the prompt says we are supposed to tell you our story. Now if you don’t already know our story, I am flattered that you are taking the time to be on our website because all here, likely know our story. So I am going to SPICE IT UP and I hope I am going to make things sound *somewhat* interesting. Grab some popcorn and let’s get to reading. *Do people truly give time to these or could I be watching Matilda for the 78th time instead of doing this? I love the idea of being fully known, and Adam and I get to gush about each other YAY, but I get why couples avoid this. There is an impending doom of all others being bored by my love-story, which could forever lead us to silence, because clearly our love is usually ALL Adam and I talk about to you people. So bare with us, or pretend you did so you get the one time special offer for all who complete reading this. Prizes will be handed out at the wedding after full recital of our story with at least 85% accuracy and 100% killer dance moves. Also my second love to Adam is my music obsession soooo WHAT BETTER WAY TO PUMP EVERYONE UP THAN SOME TUNES?! here are some of our faves over the years: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6AXbVXlrNmavKIOK7l9J2h?si=dt8vjvEuTyGlaCxurm5EBw

Everybody who spends time with Annie can't believe how she could be this special. I agree. I don't know if i can describe how bless I am with Annie. Annie lives freely, walking in peace and shares it. I have more fun with her than anyone. She is a risktaker, and is up for basically anything, and will make it better. Her being present is enjoyable whether she is very intentional or dying laughing. She makes tough situations lighter for everyone. She has a arsenal of intelligent stand up comedy that she writes during times when she is in pain and can't sleep. She is the bravest person and the stories are endless of what she's faced. I've never seen one as thoughtful as Annie, she taught me how to be a good friend. She writes down what she hears you say so she can remember, pray, follow up or get a thoughtful gift. Annie doesn't usually express herself first, so sometimes I get frustrated because she isn't very known, but it is cool because I haven't seen anyone WANT to put others first the way she does. She should be in spotlight more because she is probably the most entertaining person in the room. She is more hyperactive than me, which will be even scarier when she is healthy. I want to keep up. She unpredictably dances, sings, knows the lyrics to every song, and laughs all hours of the day. She is unpredictable. She is such an internal processor, 12 hours a day I wonder what Annie could be thinking of now. There is always more to her. She loves to be asked questions and when she starts sharing how she is feeling, its profound. I feel lucky that she talks a lot to me. One of my favorite things about Annie is that she is unashamed and honest. She stands up for all of her people and her beliefs, while also valuing anyone else’s opinion. She always wants to learn more. She made me go poolhopping into backyards in the middle of the night. She brings joy to anyone who lets her. I always want more of it. I tell her that she is usually why I smile because she is light.

Adam is goofy. Loves to make people laugh, scared, and very successful at it. He loves the “shock factor” as he calls it. I don't give him much feedback when he is initiating shock factor mode, although sometimes I secretly find it to be funny. Adam loves to eat, all types of foods. He says that you can like any food if you put your mind to it, so he has done just that, put his mind to eating every. single. food. known. or discoverable. He is THE best chef. Adam is frugal, loves a good deal, and will always get his moneys worth- no matter the embarrassment that it could bring to him, me, or the 5 people I was hoping we would have a future friendship with, until I see him ask for a soda drink cup at taco bueno and fill it with salsa from the salsa bar "for breakfast in the morning". At that point I know the future friendship could come to a crashing halt. Adam is loving of me exactly how I am, and this theory has been tested. He seen me at the pit and bottom of my very worst with all my crazy at the surface, and hey, we are making a wedding website #win. Adam shows acceptance and unconditional love, reminding me how God sees me when I am just "not good enough". Adam is a servant. He is a challenger for me to be better. He is patient. He listens to countless situations, I share more with him than I have ever thought possible and it comes without judgement. He is pretty incredible. He likes taking care of all problems. Ask him about something obscure and he will find a solution probably via YouTube. He is so loyal to his close people no matter how they have changed or how often they see another. He also likes Taco Bueno, did I mention that? My favorite thing about Adam is how I've watched him grow in humility. He is a man who isn't afraid to change and become stronger, kinder, humbler, etc which is more attractive to me than a man who already thinks he has it all figured out. Adam’s zest for life is contagious and we all wish we were as pumped for everything as he was.

Annie- When I met Adam, I was post surgery. Just removing a chunk of colon, I wasn't feeling too romantic. I was on lots of mind-altering (legal) medications and continuously shameless crying so, I’m sure he wasn’t feeling the romantic vibes either. After a few unannounced (but very kind) visits, Adam was doing my dishes? Adam was all the things that someone who would sporadically do your dishes was. He was a servant. He was generous. He was confident. He was a perfectly suitable housewife. There were a few problems though, 1 neon tank tops 2 he was loud, or just had a low understanding of spatial awareness. Friend zone sitch lasted 5 months, once I realized I deeply craved time with him. He would usually surprise me, so by the end of the friend zone era, I would look out my window hoping I would see his little car. You can in fact get butterflies while on an overload of medications and in terrible pain. Adam brought feelings into my life that I thought had died with my healthy body. Adam- I was attracted to her from the beginning, but I decided it wasn't best to try to date. When I first met Annie, my first thought was that she was so hilarious. I also realized she was smart, book smart. She wore glasses a lot. “Why did you wear those all the time Annie?” The most attractive thing about Annie was how she talked about Jesus and always wanted to become more like him. She was honest about her flaws. The second time of meeting her, I got the chance to hear her pray for a friend. She had so much depth, learning about me in ways nobody ever had. No matter how well she knew someone, she always wanted to know them better. There was this really beautiful girl, who was going through more than anyone could imagine, had thousands of other friends to care about, and yet thought that I, and anyone else including strangers, was important enough to take time for even when it was inconvenient. She also ate a lot of candy. I gained a lot of weight when I started going over there.

I had planned to propose to Annie on Easter Sunday at a "church service". Easter is her favorite day of the year. But yet this year, it was one of the worst weekends ever. Reason 1: Annie’s physical health declined dramatically to the point of her not getting blood to her brain. She knew I was familiar, but didn't recognize me as her boyfriend of almost 4 years. She didn't know where she was or who anyone was. I was heartbroken and she was frightened. Reason 2: After her huge memory loss spell, while Annie was feeling out of it, she went on to tell me she was not ready for us to be engaged still. So 24 hours before my proposal was planned, she confessed how much she feared marriage and commitment. Reason 3: Sunday morning (proposal morning) I have gotten little sleep, I was up helping Annie fall asleep to a horrible night of pain and POTS symptoms. My roommates prayed over me and encouraged me to continue in the plan I had. But even with their encouragement, on Sunday morning I mourned the the proposal, I couldn't put anything else on her or ask her to leave the house. But sure enough, when she woke up she said that pain wasn't going to take her from worshipping God on Easter. She told me that we can't compare ourselves to everyone's "easy" lives and we still can live even when we feel like we aren't. She was determined to go to church. She didn't know that "church service" meant a proposal, but proposal was back on. We got to the park and had a church service. She looked at me and said she felt little pain which never happens, and she was completely alert. I was so excited! I read her some important letters from family and I proposed and she said yes while dying laughing. She had just prayed and felt like she could finally let go of her control and fear of marriage. I felt so grateful. It didn't feel real. I feel so grateful that God took us through that to show us persistence in how to trust him no matter what. She said yes! And I am getting to marry her!

Yall! Adam wooed me and cried with me and I couldn't stop giggling. I have feared marriage and commitment since birth but alas I am not going to be 80 and pushing away any potential husband, he is here! God gave me the strength to say YES! And I still say yes with certainty and emotion I didn't know could exist! I laughed until I stuck my whole body out of the sunroof and screamed to the world that we got engaged. And then my best friends flew in/came over. Truly I don't think I reacted because all the surprises. Then he surprised me with a petting zoo (SO MANY ANIMALS) party with my people and an Easter egg hunt. And already printed engagement pics? How did my friends print that so quick? Adam made something that I feared in the past, into a day of total shock-factor as he does-AND SO MUCH JOY! Adam did this on Easter, which is the Christian celebration of Jesus Christ, being raised from the dead after taking on the brokenness of the world. It sounds a little cooky if you haven’t heard it before, but for Adam and I, it is freedom. We believe that despite whatever we were doing, Jesus was the atoning sacrifice for our sin, laying down his life for my (and I believe all of our) flaws and expressing that no matter who/how we are, we are loved by Him. In the Bible, Romans says “For God demonstrated his love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” It is so hard to love someone WHILE they’re doing wrong, but In the midst of all my brokenness, God still loved me. Because of this love changing my world, I can choose Adam when I'm a 100% commitaphobe and I can laugh my head off when all my body tells me to do is cry. So engagement rocks, but I do think I love the story of Easter more and would be lying if I didn’t share the real reason behind our hearts for each other. Thank you God for adam. For these people. And for helping me hold my bladder through engagement when I was totally sure I was going to pee my pants. OMG I AM GETTING AMPED!!