Ahlan wa Sahlan!

We apologize for the delay in communicating these details to you all. After all we have been through as a couple, we decided on the following schedule for our wedding celebrations: June 30 - intimate ceremony to wed one another and focus on our union before God and immediate family July 20 - Wedding in Nazareth, Israel (if anyone is interested in making the trip, let me know) August 17 - Wedding celebration (reception) in Texas We know this is not a traditional schedule, but we hope to make this celebration worthwhile for our friends and family coming from near and far. We are truly thankful for your presence in our lives.

Habib and I met at church when I had just moved to Nazareth. I was taking in and adjusting to my new and foreign surroundings, so I didn't think much when I met him in the midst of all this. His mom, a fellow American living in Nazareth, graciously invited me over a few times so I could be in a familiar and comfortable environment. On one of those visits, Habib invited me to the church's young adults group. I began attending, then occasionally hanging out with Habib in group settings. As I started seeing more of Habib's heart, love for God and the Church, and sweet, genuine soul, I was interested. It took several months, but he eventually won me over to be more than friends, then officially a couple. He stayed by my side through some difficult times of me getting my Master's degree in Jerusalem, him finishing his degree in Haifa, and navigating cultural differences and long distance. This past year and a half has been especially difficult with the atrocities being committed against the Palestinian people in his own backyard. Even in the midst of these many challenges, Habib has made me feel extremely loved and cared for, and I am so thankful to start a life together with him (and finally be in the same place as him again!).

I remember the first time I met Hannah. She had just come to our church, and she immediately caught my eye. She was so beautiful. One day, I decided to reach out and invite her to our young adult's group, where our friendship began to flourish. One night I got to spend a lot of time just hearing her story, and I found that she was not just beautiful, but intelligent, funny, strong, and had a strong heart for God and the Church. I was hooked. As time went by, I noticed my heart grow fonder, and one day, driving down a bridge in Dallas, it dawned on me how much I really liked her. Being the overthinker that I am, I ran hundreds of scenarios in my head of how to tell her, and what I would do when I did, and would question back and forth if the feeling was mutual. My feelings just grew stronger the more I got to know her, and eventually Hannah beat me to the punch. And thus our journey began. Times of easy excitement and difficult growth alike grew me closer to her, and more importantly to the Lord. She challenged me, yet loved me patiently, through cultural differences, physical distance, heavily uncertain times of horrific war, and moving across the ocean. And now, as we look forward to our life together, I could think of no one more wonderful than Hannah for me and am excited for all the Lord has in store for us as we embark on this new journey together!