We’re getting married!

Kevin and I first met through Josh, the best man. Little did we know that our paths would cross again about a year later. We initially kept bumping into each other at the Central West End Starbucks. Small conversations became progressively longer conversations as we “conveniently” ran into each other more and more often. Kevin would later tell me that he intentionally went to Starbucks daily in hopes of bumping into me. On our first unofficial date, Kevin took me for pizza and beer, two of my LEAST favorite things. We talked for hours that night about ourselves and our plans for our future. Kevin later told me that it was the night he could see himself getting married to me. Within a few weeks, we began dating, and it was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life. We have been inseparable from the beginning. Kevin shows me unconditional love and compassion that resembles that of our Father’s. Our relationship is not perfect, but we are committed to making it that we can.

During college, I lived near the Chase Park Plaza in the Central West End of St.Louis. I often found myself day dreaming about being proposed to at the balcony of the Chase Park Plaza someday. It was so beautiful with the strung lights and the full view of the city. Fast forward six years later, Kevin began planning to propose to me with the help of my friends. Knowing what a helpless romantic I was, he wanted to make sure that it was the perfect and most memorable day for me. After months of planning and searching for the perfect ring, Kevin made arrangements to have my second family visit me on our last weekend in St. Louis before we moved back to Chicago, but with the secret purpose of a surprise proposal. On our last day in St. Louis, Kevin had taken me to a ”work luncheon” at the Chase Park Plaza to commemorate the end of his fellowship. After having a goodbye breakfast with my ‘family’, we got ready for the luncheon and went to the Chase Park Plaza. We rode up the elevator to the balcony floor and when we entered, I was welcomed by a path of rose petals leading out to the balcony, and photos of our years together. Kevin led me out to the balcony where he got on one knee and asked me to marry him. He opened the ring but I couldn’t see the ring for a moment, and realized that it was upside down. We had a good laugh, I helped him right the box, and I said yes! My ‘family’ then came out to toast on the engagement! I was just so thankful that I had all of my friends come to help and support us on such an amazing day for the both of us.

We moved to Chicago the day after our engagement. Kevin had received an offer south of Chicago, and I was searching for a new path. It was so exciting because we had been talking about our future in Chicago for a while, and it was now finally happening! We are so excited for many more years to come in a new city together, and we cant wait to make this our hometown for our family.

How great the chasm that lay between us How high the mountain I could not climb In desperation, I turned to heaven And spoke Your name into the night Then through the darkness, Your loving-kindness Tore through the shadows of my soul The work is finished, the end is written Jesus Christ, my living hope Who could imagine so great a mercy? What heart could fathom such boundless grace? The God of ages stepped down from glory To wear my sin and bear my shame The cross has spoken, I am forgiven The King of kings calls me His own Beautiful Savior, I'm Yours forever Jesus Christ, my living hope Hallelujah, praise the One who set me free Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me You have broken every chain There's salvation in Your name Jesus Christ, my living hope Hallelujah, praise the One who set me free Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me You have broken every chain There's salvation in Your name Jesus Christ, my living hope Then came the morning that sealed the promise Your buried body began to breathe Out of the silence, the Roaring Lion Declared the grave has no claim on me Then came the morning that sealed the promise Your buried body began to breathe Out of the silence, the Roaring Lion Declared the grave has no claim on me Jesus, Yours is the victory, whoa! Hallelujah, praise the One who set me free Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me You have broken every chain There's salvation in Your name Jesus Christ, my living hope Hallelujah, praise the One who set me free Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me You have broken every chain There's salvation in Your name Jesus Christ, my living hope Jesus Christ, my living hope Oh God, You are my living hope

주와 내 사이 너무나 멀고 저 높은 산에 갈 수 없네 절망 중에서 천국을 보니 어둠 속에 주 외치네 어둠을 뚫고 주님의 자비 내 영혼 그림자 찢네 다 이루시고 기록하셨네 주 예수 내 산 소망 상상도 못 할 위대한 자비 헤아릴 수 없는 한없는 은혜 만세 하나님 친히 이 땅에 내려오셔 내 죄 사했네 십자가에서 나 용서받고 만왕의 왕 자녀 됐네 아름다우신 나의 구원자 주 예수 내 산 소망 할렐루야 난 자유를 얻었네 할렐루야 죽음은 힘 잃었네 모든 사슬 끊으신 구원에 이름 찬양 주 예수 내 산 소망 할렐루야 난 자유를 얻었네 할렐루야 죽음은 힘 잃었네 모든 사슬 끊으신 구원에 이름 찬양 주 예수 내 산 소망 언약 되었던 아침이 왔고 묻혔던 몸이 호흡하네 침묵을 깨고 우는 사자같이 죽음에서 부활하셨네 언약 되었던 아침이 왔고 묻혔던 몸이 호흡하네 침묵을 깨고 우는 사자같이 죽음에서 부활하셨네 주 예수 승리하셨네 할렐루야 난 자유를 얻었네 할렐루야 죽음은 힘 잃었네 모든 사슬 끊으신 구원에 이름 찬양 주 예수 내 산 소망 할렐루야 난 자유를 얻었네 할렐루야 죽음은 힘 잃었네 모든 사슬 끊으신 구원에 이름 찬양 주 예수 내 산 소망 주 예수 내 산 소망 하나님 내 산 소망