Pete's Story - It all started over Memorial Day weekend last year. We both were volunteering at church that Sunday. Our first date was at a coffee shop. Emma ordered a horrible cup of tea and I suffered in awe of her with an equally bad cup myself. I quickly realized throughout our conversation how fascinating and incredible she was/is. I tend to be an inquisitive person by nature (I'm a teacher) and I love to learn. Every time I asked her a new question and she said "good question," my excitement built. Our date progressed into a walk in the neighborhood and through Frick Park. Over the summer and throughout the rest of 2023, we grew together in so many ways. We both quickly realized that this was something special, and started premarital counseling before we were engaged. Emma has taught me how it feels to have someone genuinely invested and excited about my life. Emma's Story - The first thing that struck me about Pete was his smile. He is infectiously positive and has a perspective on life that is full of genuine enthusiasm and wonder. After our first date, I remember calling my sister and saying "this guy is different." Over the course of our relationship, I got to see other sides of Pete beyond his enthusiasm and positivity. He is incredibly intentional and is an excellent sounding board and advisor for the hard and unhappy parts of life. He pushes back on on me when he needs to, and is also willing to go outside his comfort zone for me. I'm so thankful for him.