Our story begins on a cold February day when Karl landed in St. Louis for a scholarship interview at Concordia Seminary. He met up with Isaiah Mudge, who was landing around the same time, and was being picked up by Dr. Mudge. Karl and Isaiah instantly became friends and Karl got to enjoy the warmth of the Mudge family for dinner later that weekend. Little did he know that a year later he would meet Ella. Or that Ella's Mom had called her at college to talk about the cute piano-playing Russian man they had over for dinner, and Ella thought "That's cool" and promptly forgot about it. Karl and Ella met at Village Lutheran Church on Easter Vigil of 2024 when Ella was visiting family. Enjoying a brief conversation, Karl asked for Ella's phone number. Ella, believing that Karl was not serious about pursuing her, responded by providing an Instagram account she never used. Karl was serious, however and they soon began talking. Their connection was obvious from the start and their first date was in May of that year, where, despite her efforts to stay cool, Ella was swept away by Karl's gentlemanly-ness, sense of humor, adventurous spirit, and intelligence. Six hours passed like a moment and Ella knew she found someone unforgettable. After building a foundation of a friendship over the summer, Karl asked to court Ella on October 16th of 2024. Since then, they have found a common love for French Impressionism, outdoor adventures, thought inspiring essays, critiquing Black Mirror episodes, and enjoying dancing in the kitchen while cooking (hopefully some Asian or Indian cuisine). Unable to contain his excitement for the future any longer, Karl proposed to Ella on December 20th, 2025 in the beautiful sanctuary of St. Lorenz Lutheran Church in Frankenmuth, MI. Most importantly, Karl and Ella find incredible peace in sharing the same foundation of faith and outward expression of it in daily life. They love going to church together, singing hymns, reading God's Word, and praying every morning and evening. Karl is fascinated by Ella's care for her patients as a nurse, while Ella enjoys listening to Karl's theological ruminations. They are excited for a future together, looking forward to camping in a van around the United States for a couple of months before spending a year in England, studying abroad. We thank you all for your support of our marriage!