WE ARE GETTING MARRIED!

We were placed in the same small group with some awesome people from Morning Star Church. We both say we began our friendship when we went camping with our small group. Morgan remembers thinking he was really cool - probably old - but talented after Jerod had played his guitar and sang around the campfire that night. But that was it, just friends and getting to know each other unbiased for that next year. Around the springtime Jerod had surprised our small group with exciting news that he had accepted a job in Topeka working for Called To Greatness on Washburn's Campus. He wasn't sure how to end the conversation, so he chose "well, cya never I guess!" This was the first time it hit Morgan how much she enjoyed his input and humor in group and was going to miss him. But that was the end of that, so we thought. We somehow continued to run into each other at random events, and continued to say "cya never" every time we would leave. It stuck and became a reminder of how God was central to our developing relationship and how we didn't feel the need to force a connection. Eventually, summer came and we were playing volleyball each week with Called To Greatness and hanging out with people afterwards in the Dillon's parking lot, eating ice cream and having deep intellectual conversations. As time went on, our group dwindled to just Jerod, Morgan and Seth Siemens... poor Seth. We all got a lot closer during this time and soon everyone could tell Jerod and Morgan liked each other, except Jerod and Morgan. Feelings and intentions were shared eventually, we spent the next semester intentionally being friends and hanging out in groups of people. And if you want to know how we started dating - you'll just have to come over for dinner one night and ask! :)

Morgan had planned to take Jerod to Colorado for his birthday, which matched up perfectly with the date Jerod had planned on doing it! There are a ton of fun little details of the day (again, you'll have to come over for dinner for those:) ) but Jerod took Morgan to Mt. Cutler for a hike up a mountain! On the way up, as we were being our weird selves, Morgan decided it would be funny to grab a dandelion and have Jerod make a wish, but shove the dandelion in his mouth as he inhaled. He fell for it and then took off running up the mountain wondering what the heck he was getting himself into (just kidding, he was more laughing about if Morgan only knew what was about to happen:) ). Once we got to the top we soaked up the view and Jerod said he was going to get out his ukulele. Morgan didn't suspect anything until she turned back from looking at some trees to see what he was doing since he seemed distracted - that's when she realized he was digging in his bag for a while for a ukulele... after tuning it up and protecting it from delightful mountain drizzles, Jerod directly instructed Morgan to get on this large rock. He began to play and Morgan, having suspicions but trying not to ruin the surprise, began dancing out of nervousness! As Jerod began to sing (with a huge smile on his face and tears in his eyes) she realized it was something he wrote for her!! Jerod essentially wrote his proposal as a song and got down on one knee after. She said yes of course, especially because he opened the ring box upside down and that was really cute:), and Morgan's cousin and his wife appeared in disguises from the woods for pictures! It was so incredible and unreal!!!

ceremony: small, intimate (and quick!) reception: large, relaxed, party with dances, outdoor & indoor games, snacks and ice cream! *No dinner will be served - If you want/need to bring your own dinner and a picnic blanket you can totally do that!*