Mary’s version How it started- I had just attended a friend’s wedding and seeing them so happy together inspired me to try once again to find some happiness of my own. I hesitantly set out into the world of online dating on Christian Mingle and after some…interesting encounters I was ready to give up and never go back, until I got one message from this guy named Ben. We connected over movies and hobbies and our love of our families and God. So a few days later he asked if I wanted to go for a walk with him. I recruited two of my best friends and shared my location with them as I went out to meet this stranger from the internet…who turned out to be the most amazing man I have ever met…. I arrived at Ben’s place and he immediately pulled me into a hug making me blush. We started walking along this trail and just talked…the conversation flowed as if we had been friends for years. Over an hour into our walk, neither one of us wanted to suggest turning around to head back but the sun was starting to set. As we made our way back, our legs hurting, the sunlight fading, the conversation only stopped as we struggled to catch our breath from walking. My phone was blowing up but I wasn’t about to be rude and check it. Another two hours later and we arrived back at my car. He asked when he could see me again and I definitely wanted to see him again soon. Getting back in my car I finally checked my phone and assured my friends that I was ok after not answering my phone for three hours…whoops! Then I called my mom and sister and told them we had to have dinner tomorrow because I had just met the most amazing guy…I had just met my best friend. The proposal- (I knew it was coming…shhh) Ben had invited me over and asked if I wanted to go for a walk on the trail. We have walked on that trail several times since that first date so this wasn’t out of the ordinary, but when I arrived at Ben’s apartment he pulled me into a hug…for about five minutes. As he is a bit taller than me, my head rests perfectly against his chest and I could hear his heart racing. So I held him tighter. Finally he let go and we got ready to for the walk. He disappeared into his room for several minutes then emerged with his hands deep in his pockets. We started walking and I smiled because Ben always reaches out to hold my hand but this time he kept his hands deep in his pockets. He spoke about that first time we walked along this trail, how we both knew that first night that this was something special, and all the memories we’ve had since then. He was literally taking me on a walk down memory lane. Finally, he reached for my hand…pulled me off to the side…got down on one knee…and well you can guess the rest! Ben is the most caring, hilarious, loving, and amazing man I have ever met. I’m so incredibly lucky to have found him and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with him.

Ben’s Version Like Mary, I was also at a friend’s wedding right before I started dating her. I had not been in a true relationship in years, but after seeing all the love at the wedding, I decided to finally put myself out there. It’s my turn to find my other half. I downloaded Christian Mingle one day and was scrolling through the app. I wanted to find not just any girl. I wanted to find the RIGHT girl for me. Someone who can laugh with me, have fun, and share the same views as me. I wanted to find someone whom my family and friends can love as much as I do. Then one day, I found Mary’s profile. I saw a very cute girl that lived in Lancaster, so naturally I had to see what she’s all about! I’m not normally someone who puts myself out there, but God was talking to me that day. I sent Mary a message introducing myself and we just started talking about…well…everything! Movies, games, things we like, you know the basic ice breakers. I felt an instant connection with Mary, and wanted to take it a step further and meet her. May 25, 2023: I asked Mary to come to my apartment so we can go on a walk on the rail trail right next to where I live. She thankfully agreed! We started on our walk, and you would’ve thought we’d known each other for 10 years. We talked about everything: movies, family, friends, likes, dislikes, you name it. We talked and walked for so long that we didn’t realize how long we were out and our legs started to feel like jelly. So we decided to finally head home. In my 27 years of life at the time, I had never felt such a connection as I did with Mary that night. Little did I know that I was walking alongside my best friend. My love. My future wife. Fast forward to November 1, 2024: our lives would change forever. It was time to propose. I took Mary down the same exact path as our first date, got down on one knee, and asked her to marry me. She said…well…what do you think?? :) I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with Mary. She is everything I could have asked for and SO much more. I could not have asked for a more kind, sweet, beautiful, funny, warm, down-to-earth, caring woman to be my other half. I can’t wait for everyone to come and celebrate our marriage together!