To be quite honest, I do not remember meeting Aaron for the first time. Somehow, he just seemed to have always been a part of my life. During our sophomore year of college, through student leadership and volunteering at church, I found that my friendship with Aaron bloomed slowly. Yet, on my 19th birthday, he wrote me a card that left me in a puddle of tears because I felt so loved, appreciated, and seen. It left me wondering "who is this guy?". As time carried on, the Lord sweetly prepared us for each other through seasons of difficult refinement, but some how I found such security in my deepening friendship with Aaron. He cared for me, my heart, and my chase after Jesus. There truly came a time where my friendship with him felt something like "home", a place that was safe, a place I always wanted to be. He was my best friend. Jumping forward, in January of 2018, our junior year of college, Aaron asked me out for coffee one day. After all the small talk, he worked up the courage to share his heart and the desire to pursue a committed relationship with me. Even though I was taken off guard, it was almost music to my ears and my heart. After hours of talking about the potential of our relationship, I remember making the "first move" by reaching over and grabbing his hand as we watched the sunset. I did it only because I knew so quickly he was something I never wanted to let go of. Eventually, on March 4, 2018, Aaron asked me to be his girlfriend in my hometown of Big Bear Lake, California. Two weeks later Aaron told me he loved me… and I said it back. From there on, our lives have been blessed by God's gracious moments together. Whether trialling or fulfilling, we have found such a profound love for the Lord while also for each other in each passing season.

I do remember meeting Hannah for the first time... She was riding shotgun with a guy in a brand new Mustang. I reached across through the driver's side window and introduced myself as I shook her hand. We spent the next months becoming close friends as we both discovered new friendships that year. By the end of the year, she was one of my best friends who I could share anything with, but, I'll be honest with you, I never saw Hannah more than that. Little did I know, that friendship was all part of God's plan, as it laid the fundamental foundation for a soon-to-be relationship. Junior year started with a lot of challenges for me personally: a new roommate, a new leadership role on campus, and recently ended relationship. One of the few things that didn't change was Hannah. For the next three months she stood by me, challenged me, and encouraged me through that difficult season. One day I finally woke up and thought to myself, "what if I dated Hannah?". I was so nervous that pursing a relationship with her would ruin our friendship, I spent the next three months praying, thinking, and asking my roommate what I should do. Finally, we went out to coffee and I told her my feelings for her and how I could see us being more than friends. She immediately grabbed my hand and wouldn't let go, and we sat there and watched the sunset as we discussed what this would look like moving forward. Fast forward two long months and I finally, officially asked her if she would be my girlfriend. Call me crazy (and just about everybody did), but after a week I knew this was the woman I wanted to marry. And a week after that I told her I loved her. Most people would think that's moving pretty fast, but in reality I knew I loved Hannah after all those months when she was there for me in my hardest season. Now I could finally say it, and I'll get to say it for a very long time.

In the early months of 2019, I was debating whether or not I should ask Hannah's dad for his permission to marry his daughter. We had been dating for just about a year at that point. Was it too early to have that conversation? Was I ready for that conversation? What would he say? (For those of you who don't know, Hannah's dad was a sergeant at the time and he called me "Sticks", probably because he knew he could break me like a stick anytime he wanted, so needless to say I was nervous about the conversation). I began praying that if it was the Lord's will, he would give me an opportunity to talk to her dad. In March of 2019, we went up to Big Bear to spend time with her parents during spring break. The whole week I was nervous and was praying for God to give me the opportunity if it was His will. Finally, one afternoon it was just me and him in the living room, but I was so petrified I couldn't do it. That night I knew I blew my chance, so I asked God one more time that if this is what He really wants, to give me one more chance (and to give me the courage to actually do it). The next day, Hannah fell asleep upstairs taking a nap, I walked downstairs and it was just me and her parents. Suddenly, her mom stepped out of the room and it was just her dad and I. I knew this was my chance, so I grabbed a glass of water and asked to speak with him outside. With the glass of water shaking in my hand I asked his permission to marry his daughter. After a brief pause and an exhale, he said the best thing I could've ever heard: "Absolutely, Aaron". I was so relieved! I walked back in the house and went to the bathroom just to get a moment alone to process what had just happened. When I got back into the living room Hannah's mom returned and gave me a hug as she cried, (to this day I don't know where her mom disappeared to). Hannah woke up 20 minutes later and came downstairs for dinner. She had no idea what had happened moments before and wouldn't know for another six months.

In July I found both Hannah's ring and the place where I wanted to propose. It was a little place called the Redwood Groves at Carbon Canyon Regional Park in Brea, CA. The day was set to be Saturday, August 24th. I told Hannah I would take her to a farmer's market in downtown Yorba Linda that day. I also told her to come early so we could go to brunch. As it turned out, the whole day was a disaster. Hannah got really sick that week and did not feel good at all that morning. She spilt coffee on her dress so she was running almost 45 minutes late by the time she got to my apartment. We went out to Mimi's Cafe for brunch, and it was the worst brunch ever. NEVER GO TO MIMI'S CAFE. The food was terrible; lukewarm and overcooked. I had to go to the bathroom several times just because I was so nervous, and Hannah kept feeling worse. When we finally left Mimi's, we had to stop to get Hannah medicine because she felt so sick. Nonetheless, I told her I was going to take her to a park before going to the farmers market because I thought she would like it. The weather was a scorching 95 degrees that day, so Hannah was not very happy with me when I made her walk on a dirt trail in a dress to a park in the blistering sun. After a 10 minute walk down we arrived at the park. I walked aimlessly and nervously around for a minute or so to make sure our photographer was in position. Then as I approached the place where I was supposed to get on one knee, I was so nervous I walked right passed it. I grabbed Hannah by the shoulders and told her to stand on the other side of me to get her into position. As my heart pounded, I nervously botched the speech I had prepared, then pulled out the ring and got on a knee. She cried and nodded yes. When we got back to my apartment, Hannah was surprised to find all our friends and family there to celebrate. She was disappointed to find out there was no farmer's market to go to that day, but I think she enjoyed what I had planned instead.