It was January of 2018, a month I’ll never forget. I embarked on one of the most enriching and exciting journeys of my life by moving to Jos, Nigeria for six months, engaging in cross-cultural mission work. Little did I know about three weeks after arriving, I would meet my future husband, Mr. Fabian Kuhl. Fabi and I spent a lot of time together through a variety of venues, becoming friends. To start, we were neighbors in the same apartment complex. We shared meals together, engaged in Monday prayer nights, played Frisbee on a weekly basis and just did life together for five incredible months. I started to call Fabi my "daily source of entertainment" because he had a way of making me laugh on an ongoing basis that brought immense joy to my spirit. In addition to being neighbors and friends on a social level, we also served alongside each other. Fabi taught at a refugee camp for displaced orphans from Northern Nigeria, right next door to me! In Nigeria, the walls of each class do not reach the ceiling. Consequently, we often heard each other teach. This became quite comical as we began bouncing jokes to each other in between teaching English and Math. In June of 2018 I left Nigeria & Fabi on a purely friend basis (SIM missionaries will back me up on this.) Little did I know that six weeks later, our deep rooted friendship would take a romantic turn. On August 25, 2018 after a few weeks of prayer and seeking wise counsel, we decided to embark on the greatest adventure of our lives- our love story began!!

This adventure began while Fabi was working in Germany and I was just beginning my first year of teaching Kindergarten at Mack Elementary in Woodinville, WA. Fabi and I braved the waters of a nine hour time difference, a language barrier due to a thick German accent on Fabi's part, and cultural differences. Despite all these obstacles, we laid a strong communication foundation and as a result of distance and sweet skype calls, our hearts for one another grew fonder and fonder. December 28, 2018 all of the long distance changed for the better when Fabi flew from southern Germany to Seattle, WA. This was the day we said goodbye to bad wifi calls and time zone barriers. For the months that followed, distance became easier and our time spent together was richly sweet and life-giving. Fabi and I were able to see each other on weekends and when Fabi was on break from Bible school. Communicating was much easier and more frequent. We were able to create special memories kayaking, having coffee talks, venturing on many double dates, and embarking on a variety of Seattle adventures. Dating and growing together in person was immensely sweet and something we did not take for granted. We are both so thankful for this season of our story. On June 26, 2019, Fabi and I embarked on another adventure, this time in Germany! Here we spent sweet time with the Kuhl family and I had the pleasure of meeting more of Fabi's friends, church family, and seeing what home looked like for him. This was an EPIC adventure for us. Our favorite highlights include touring many Castles, visiting his aunt in Heidelberg, Germany, ziplining in Austria, drinking German iced coffee (basically a milkshake) and visiting a friend from Capernwray in Frankfurt, Germany!

It was October 19th, a typcial, rainy, fall day in Seattle. Fabi had been in town for a few weeks at this point, making me believe he would not be proposing in October. Little did I know, however, later that day He was going to ask me to be his future wife!! During this rainy afternoon, Fabi informed me some guys from our life group asked to hangout with him, around this same time my brother mysteriously had to go "pick up groceries." Slightly skeptical about these afternoon excursions, I asked my mom to go for a walk with me to try to distract myself. Shortly after we began our walk, a brown car pulled up in front of us and to my surprise, it was three of my sweet life group friends from church. They quickly escorted me, blindfolded, to Picnic Point beach in Edmonds, WA. As soon as I arrived, Fabi walked me down to the beach where he then, took off my blind fold. To my surprise, Fabi carved a giant heart in the sand, filled with leaves and beautiful rose petals!! You may not know, but the hour when Fabi proposed, it stopped raining. This gave space for a beautiful, peaceful, picturesque sunset to form while Fabi proposed. I am so thankful God carved this stunning detail out for us. Fabi then bent down on one knee and asked me to spend forever with him. He recalls, I said Yes before he even popped the question! I've been living on cloud 9 ever since. He then placed the ring on my finger, and shortly after we had a moment to take it all in, my brother and friends popped out of the bushes to share in this joyous news! We spent the rest of the evening reminiscing these details and celebrating with everyone, including my parents, at Olive Garden. Fabi was so romantic in how he proposed! I am so excited to become a Kuhl but even more ecstatic to be his wife! This has been the sweetest and most treasured ride of our lives and we cannot wait to continue this adventure as husband and wife!