We were always so close to one another but so far. We first met in the delightful chaos of kids' ministry at church in Cincinnati in 2019, where we taught the next generation about Jesus but from different classrooms. In between serves and in group events, our paths crossed, and we began to slowly know one another. After a few years of serving alongside each other, friendship bloomed, and we briefly pondered the dating route. After going on several dates, we decided it was better for us to stay friends. Our story would change in a way we would never have expected once Haley got accepted to OSU for graduate school. The day we were officially living in separate cities, we decided to take a leap of faith and give dating a shot. Diving headfirst into a long-distance relationship it has been filled with endless phone calls, creative gifts, video dates, driving 100+ miles on the weekend, and late-night study sessions. We are excited for the future and to live in the same city again soon!

When we first started going on dates, Derek found a park for us to explore. While it seemed like just another outdoorsy date, we found ourselves reflecting on that date and would joke about Haley’s bold “yes” to going to an unknown wooded area alone with this goofy guy she got to know in kids’ ministry. This was the start of our adventures together🤍. At the end of September 2023 (nearly 2 years to the day we went to this park the first time), we returned to this same park to go "pawpaw hunting" (pawpaw is a fruit; look it up). To our surprise our foraging date was a success and, after various attempts, secured some pawpaw fruit, though that wasn’t the only surprise that day. While we were heading out of the wooded park, Derek would stop me on a bridge, get on one knee, and ask Haley to join him in a lifetime of adventures. We went in on a hike and left engaged!! We're so excited to celebrate this next chapter in our lives with you!! See you in May 2024!