i've found the one whom my soul loves

Our journey begins with prayer. As all great journeys do. In April 2022, as a sophomore in college, I began a 54-day novena. My best friend, Erika, shared her testimony with the devotion and recommended it as a prayerful tool for seeking clarity and guidance in my vocation. For those unfamiliar, a 54-day novena is a powerful devotion where you pray the rosary for 27 days in petition and another 27 days in thanksgiving. I began my novena on April 13, 2022, asking the Lord for clarity, healing, confidence, and for the future family I deeply desired. I wrote down a list of things I desired in a husband—beginning with “a man after God’s own heart, possessing a deep faith,” and including surface-level desires like “tall,” “funny,” and “someone like my dad.” Only a few days into prayer, my college roommate, Ella Evans, mentioned a boy she knew from the Naval Academy, Grant Dean, through his friend Harry. She described him as this 6'5" redhead with blue eyes and a goofy, kind personality. Initially, I brushed off her comments of “I think you’d like him!” I’m not sure why, but now I know it wasn’t the right time—God’s timing was about to blow me away. I had even briefly considered flying up with Ella for the Easter Vigil Mass at the Naval Academy to meet Grant, but that plan never left the drawing board. Little did I know, exactly one year later, I would be flying up to see him become Catholic. But in 2022, I once again brushed off the idea of meeting Mr. Dean. Something stirred in me a few weeks later. Ella was fairly persistent and suggested I just send him a message—there was no harm in trying. So, I opened Instagram and started typing the most awkward line in his DMs. In that same moment, I saw the little "typing" bubble pop up from his side. He beat me to it! And thank goodness he did! My silly attempt at a pick-up line could’ve ruined my chances forever, but his "application" to talk to me—filled with humor, puns, and pictures of his dog—was the perfect kickstart to the most wonderful years of my life. That’s how it started. Harlan Grant Dean, with his thoughtful and funny messages, slowly won me over from 800 miles away. What I didn’t realize at the time was that the night he first reached out to me was the exact middle day of my 54-day novena, the day when “asking” turns into “thanking.” And I’ve been thanking God ever since for the greatest answered prayer of my life—He checked every box on the list I created on April 13th, and then some. Erika wasn’t wrong—after saying “yes” to this novena, God began sowing the seeds for a miracle I will bear witness to for the rest of my life. So when Grant asked me on our first date on July 29, 2022, it wasn’t hard to say “yes.” And when he asked me to marry him on October 6, 2024, I said the easiest “yes” of my life. God answered my prayers in ways I could never have imagined. Through Grant, I’ve continued to witness God’s love, both for me and through me, as we grow in faith together. Now, the day we’ve been waiting and praying for quickly approaches—when our “yes” turns into “I do."

From the moment we met, I knew she was the one. In August 2023, I began the exciting journey of finding the perfect ring. With the help of one of Ella's close friends, I sought something truly special. I knew Ella's hopes and dreams for this moment, and I was determined to make it perfect. After some thoughtful deliberation, I was introduced to Ms. Amanda, a talented jeweler in Texas. Our collaboration continued until we discovered the ring that encapsulated everything I wanted for Ella. In March 2024, the day finally arrived when I held the ring in my hands. It was a surreal moment—I couldn't believe I was preparing to ask Ella to be my wife. The next crucial step was to seek Mr. Kemna's blessing. During my summer leave in June 2024, I visited the Kemnas and joined Mr. Kemna and Will for a round of golf. I remember feeling a bit embarrassed as I swung and missed a few times off the first tee, but that didn’t deter me. After our game, I mustered the courage to ask for his permission to take Ella's hand in marriage. When he said yes, I felt a wave of relief and joy! As August approached, I collaborated with Ella's family and her best friends, Erika Porter and Ella Evans, to meticulously plan the perfect proposal. Then came October 6th, the day I had been eagerly anticipating. I took Ella to the Baltimore Basilica, where I had arranged to propose. During Mass, I felt a deep sense of divine affirmation as the Gospel spoke of the beautiful union of man and woman in marriage (Genesis 2:18-24). After the service, I led her to the front of the church, expressed my love, and asked her to marry me. Her enthusiastic “yes” filled my heart with joy! To add to the surprise, I blindfolded her and took her to where our families and friends were waiting to celebrate this momentous occasion. The look of astonishment on her face was priceless! From that first day I met Ella, I knew she was the one God intended for me—my missing rib. I thank God for her every day and am forever grateful that she said yes.