Welcome, loved one!

It was three days before Christmas. I was on break from tour and Phillip was in between semesters of PT school in Omaha when our paths crossed at Free City Church in Lawrence, Kansas. My dad, in awe of Phillip’s beard, strikes up a conversation after service. Dad: Omaha? My daughter is about to perform Les Mis in Omaha. Phillip near his friend Kyle: We were JUST talking about how much we love Les Mis. Dad: Well, would you like to meet her? Phillip after Kyle leaves: Sure! Enter ME - randomly dressed up that Sunday in my favorite polka-dot number. I walk towards my dad and this big-eyed, bearded man who’s name is Phillip. The two of us talk for about three minutes before one of my sisters pulls me away to take a family picture. Phillip: Wait! Where can I get tickets for the show? Me: Oh, the info should be on the website! Soon after, my family goes to Aladdin Cafe, and I find myself wondering who this Phillip guy is and if he was seriously coming to my show. Over my empty buffet plate, I track him down on Facebook. Cute picture with his niece. Single. I impulsively send him the link to the Omaha ticket information. Me: I’m on as Éponine January 15-17! Phillip: Great! Thank you for the link. I’m excited to attend! Me: Yay! So good to meet ya. Always excited to see friendly faces at the show. Phillip: And being in the role of Éponine sounds like a lot of fun! Me: So fun! Do you know the show? Well...You get the idea.

After a couple days of texting we discovered we had one shot to go on a date and have face to face conversations. It was Christmas Day and went something like this: E: We are leaving for Colorado tomorrow, will I get to see you when we get back? P: No, We leave for Hawaii the day you get back from Colorado. And I'll be heading back to Omaha for school the day after we get back. E: Too bad nothing is open tonight, since it's Christmas. P: I could come pick you up and we could look at Christmas lights and drink hot tea? So, I explain to my parents that I'm leaving on Christmas night to go over to this girl's house that I met once, hop in my car and drive to Lawerence. It was a long day at the Riley's and dinner was ready just as I arrived. Erin asked, "Do you mind eating dinner with us? I think we have things you can eat." I replied, "Yeah, that would be great." It was a fun time learning a little about her family. Soon we had tea in hand and were off to look at lights. We talked about life, our relationship with Jesus, and the things we liked. We couldn't find too many lights so we found a park and just talked till midnight. I remember not wanting the night to end but realizing that she was coming down with a cold and had to leave early the next day decided to drive her home. I had no idea how things were going to turn out but I do know that I was very very interested in this woman. She looked at me how I looked at her and I loved that she wanted that time with me just as much as I wanted it with her.

My tour had a week-long engagement in Omaha, and Phillip and I were going to spend a week together in person, already having spoken everyday since we met. I try to keep our relationship platonic for a while (a whole other story), but our feelings for each other become embarrassingly obvious - particularly when Phillip shows up late night at the theatre with a blanket to drive me three blocks to the company hotel, so I don’t have to walk in the cold. He comes with my family to see me go on for Éponine, and when he tells me how he cried THREE TIMES, I know he can appreciate the magic of what I do. By the end of the week, I was smitten. The night before we left, in a moment of absurd clarity, I caved on my plan to only be friends and asked Phillip if he would be my boyfriend. He said... "Yeah." As my tour bus drove away the next morning, I read the note he had given me earlier in the week. Ειρήνη (my name in Greek - the same word for peace), If you were to catch a snowflake on your finger would you not take in all its unique beauty before it is gone? That has been this week for me. I am happy to have shared sweet memories with you and your family. I love Christ in you. Let Christ burn in you. May the peace of God move through you. I pray our paths will, as they twist and turn, find a point where they merge; all in His time. Affectionately yours, Phillip

About 1 week into our dating relationship, I discovered that I did not have classes on February 13th and 14th while Erin’s tour was in Cincinnati. I hopped on the Southwest Arlines website, and realized I could possibly make a Valentines day surprise trip. I messaged Paul and asked him if I should go for it. He said that Erin would love it, so I booked the trip. Fast forward a couple weeks. It's Wednesday evening and I'm talking to Erin on FaceTime. She stubbed her toe. Me: Do you want me to come kiss it better? Erin: Sure. Erin had already sent me her Valentine's day gift in the mail. It arrived early and sat unopened, mocking me in the corner of my room for weeks. I told her I sent mine too, and it was to arrive Thursday afternoon. She had no clue I would be delivering it in person. It's Thursday morning; time to head to Cincinnati from Omaha. It's -4 degrees in Nebraska. Jayce gives me a ride to the airport, and the tire goes flat. We fix it and get there just in time. I check my bag and hand over the still-packaged gift Erin sent me. Airline Worker: You want to check this? Me: Yes. Airline Worker: What's in it? Me: I don't know, it's a gift from my girlfriend. Airline Worker: So.... is it okay if we need to open it? Me: Do what you need to do as long as you don't tell me what it is. As I wait for my flight, Erin Marco Polo's me. I realize I can't respond because she’ll see I’m in an airport. Radio Silence. Take off. I'm so excited and nervous all at once. Then, of course, there is bad weather in Chicago, and my layover goes long. I need to be there before 6pm because that's when Erin has to head to the theater for work. I'm concerned I will be late. We finally take off. See Part 2 -->

... I land in Lexington, Kentucky and get an uber to take me into Cincinnati. I tell my driver that I only have 30 minutes to get to my location. This guy says, "Don’t worry, I got you." He drove like a mad man. Worth it. We arrived with 5 minutes to spare. I call Erin and tell her that the delivery guy is at the Airbnb gate and needs her to sign for the package. She opens the gate. Erin: Hi, where do I need to-... (in her mind, who this delivery guy looks a lot like Phillip) Phillip: (Smiles really big) Erin: Wait... What?... but... How? How are you here?? ARE YOU HERE TO KISS IT BETTER? Did you drive?? She was so surprised and excited. I was so happy to have made it before she left for work. I put my stuff inside and walked her to the theater. The next day we opened gifts, went to my first yoga class in a studio, and went out to a fancy dinner at 4:30pm so she could get to her evening show. We had a fantastic time, and after that trip we began to talk about marriage. But how could someone know that quickly...

Check out this stunning highlight video by Markley Media. https://vimeo.com/439972234?fbclid=IwAR20e7hHGQOpJzyEzb3xfQ8IuAQkK1eY0QuMxwtbhQ2coJbV1MdNK2wd1SA I knew something crazy was about to happen sitting across the table from Natalie when our server picked up a nachos plate and underneath it was a white envelope. It was addressed to ειρήνη, my name in Greek - the word for peace - and inside was a love letter/clue. It led me to the place where Phillip and I met (Free City Church) where Emily stood dutifully at the door with the next clue. That took us back to my house where, to complete the flock of sisters, gave us the next clue. The four of us drove around Lawrence, finding these white envelopes, laughing. Blasting love songs in the car the whole way. One of the best was a long distance clue from Jet, my best friend who lives in Hawaii. Eventually I was led to the rooftop of the Oread hotel, which I discovered was specifically unlocked for us. I turned the corner and saw sweet Phillip. The walk to him seemed like it took forever, and once I arrived I asked for the next clue. He read me one last card (which I’ll have to reread because I blacked out), got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. Through tears, I said YES. Then I saw a chorus of friends and family up on a higher ledge in their “hiding spot.” I couldn’t believe they all made the time to support us in this moment. It felt like heaven on earth.