Love is patient, love is kind.

***

We first met in the fall of 2017. It was Charlie's first week at Western Oregon, and he was nothing short of the typical freshman. I, of course, could tell immediately that he had a crush on me, but I had told my self I would never date a younger man......... ever. So I "little brother zoned" him. For two years. But he was persistent, loyal, and unbelievably patient. Through these years I watch him grow as a man and grow in Christ until one day I had an alarming realization: I had feelings for him too (I know, shocker). It wasn't too much longer after this that we started dating, and it was an even shorter time before we realized that God had brought us together for a reason, that this was right, that this was IT. We have spent every day since slowly crafting our relationship, healing one another, pushing each other in Christ and in life, laughing, loving, *cough* crying, and trying our best to choose one another each day. Now we are stepping out into a new unknown and stepping into a deeper relationship. We know that we never would have gotten this far with out our friends and loved ones along the way, and we are so, so excited to celebrate with you. We hope you can join us on the big day! Thank y'all for making this possible! Love, Charlie and Kendra

I know as a man I should never admit this but..... She kissed first. THERE, I hope you are all happy, but let me explain myself first. I remember that we had just gone line dancing and she and I wanted to talk some more. We went into her room at the Harriet house and talked for hours. Just as I was about to leave I stopped and froze. I wanted to kiss her so bad, I wanted to show her that I had feelings for her. Up until then I had never kissed a girl to start a relationship and it was only after months of awkward exchanges and non-committal emotions that I would kiss someone. She was (is) different, I was frozen in place- stuck looking into her eyes. She knew exactly what I wanted and what I was trying to do. It was probably a good five minutes of her goading me, poking at me and playfully teasing me for not having the confidence. Though I know that she was feeling the same, and no matter what she tells anyone, she was nervous too. However, Kendra, being the woman she is, broke first and the game ended right there. No more coyness, no more teasing, she kissed me. I will not explain the kiss here, I cannot do the feelings I felt justice. That kiss told me she would be the last girl and first woman I ever dated. I later found that she would be the woman I spent the rest of my life with, the woman I would call my wife even when I was 96. I know this to be true the same way I know God to be good. I have come to love her in ways that I thought were just for stories. I have a deep love for her and there is weight behind every "I love you". I know that our first kiss as a married couple will carry that same weight throughout the rest of our lives. I love you, Kendra.

We knew we were going to get married long before Charlie proposed, however, that doesn't mean that I didn't want a traditional proposal with the surprise factor and tears. Unfortunately, I am cursed with the ability to figure things out quite easily. I'm good at reading people, so it's hard to lie to me. I'm good at figuring out stories, so taking me to the movies is a nightmare. Nine times out of ten when that shocking moment happens in a TV show I yell, "I knew it! I knew it! Didn't I call that three seasons ago?!" So you can imagine just how hard it is to keep something like a wedding proposal quiet from me. I tried not to guess! I really did! I actively avoided snooping of any kind. I plugged my ears and ran out of the room if a friend tried to give me a hint. I swatted Charlie if he even brought up the topic. Alas, my super powers were too strong and I guessed it right down to place, time, etc. despite my attempts to ignore it all. Charlie and I spent twelve days backpacking/road tripping Southern Utah. This was an absolutely amazing, awe-inspiring, humbling, EXHAUSTING trip. We averaged about 14 miles on the trail each day and grand totaled somewhere around 100 miles in the first week. Half way through, we hit Bryce Canyon National Park (which you can see from the proposal photos is stunning). Our dear friends Emily and Alan Ekanger, who also happen to be unbelievably talented photographers, were living only an hour away from the park so they joined us for a day of hiking. I of course knew this was the day Charlie was going to propose, but with the excitement of seeing my friends, the beauty of the park, and the pain in my legs, I completely forgot!! So when Charlie got down on one knee at a beautiful view point I was very confused and then utterly surprised. He held out my ring- my gorgeous ring!- and asked me those words... and I cried. It was everything I wanted in a proposal and so much more. Honey, you did great. I couldn't have said no if I wanted to!

We had talked about what kind of proposal she wanted and she said that it did not matter as long as I kept from making fake proposals to throw her off. So that meant I had one chance and I couldn't back out at the last second because I felt that it was not the right time or that I was nervous. Which, unfortunately, put more pressure on me to get it right in the first place. I personally think I did a good job at hiding my escapades concerning the ring right up until I got it. Kendra had jokingly suggested I use the excuse of "I am going fishing" when I got the ring for her. Now at first I didn't plan on using that excuse but I tried to think of a way that I could do a day trip without her that she wouldn't find strange. The problem that I kept running into is that I NEVER do anything without her, except for when I go fishing. So one of those times, I went to look at rings instead. She guessed that I had gone and got a ring, but it was not until two weeks later that I had our roommate, Noah, get the ring from Ken and Daughter Jewelers. I would have done it myself but we were a few days from our Utah trip so I was "too busy" packing and Kendra was too stubborn to let me "take a break". Noah came through and I got the ring before the Utah trip. Unfortunately, Kendra had a couple strong hints that I was going to propose. One of the strongest was that I had asked to plan the Bryce Canyon day. She did not suspect a thing when I first asked her, it was only after talking with Cayla that she put two and two together. The whole trip I was nervous she was going find the ring in my day pack, but somehow she never found it. When we got to Bryce we were so tired and excited to see Emily and Alan that Kendra had forgotten her suspicions. That whole trip I was looking for the perfect spot and after about 4 miles I decided that wherever I chose would be the perfect spot. So I found a beautiful view, got on one knee, and I watched the tears roll down her beautiful face.