Caleb's Version: It started with the idea. Our 1 year anniversary was coming up, and we had discussed together that end of the school year was go time for engagement. I was hyped for that but also felt the pressure to lock in. A phone call to my older sister Catherine led to a girl's nail night being planned by Alyssa's friends Zoie and Ashley. From there, I worked meticulously to keep all the details under control for the big day. After working with family, April 12th, a week before the anniversary, was the best day. A faux dinner was planned for Alyssa by Caleb and her friend (Photographer Kristin Knope) to keep the Sunday afternoon / evening open, along with the moving of swimming plans to Saturday (thx Jason and David!). However, God threw a curveball into the mix with a rainstorm coming down around 3pm, just 30 minutes before Alyssa would pick me up to go to the Arboretum. With my sister and her husband already in town and at the outdoor Arboretum to take pictures, we had to adjust plans to a small coffee shop, Barriques, by the Capitol building. Thankfully, sister Catherine and her husband Alex scouted it out and decided there was plenty of room to move forward. Alyssa picked me up and we stopped at her house before walking to the coffee shop. I was nervous because she was so tired and didn't wanna go anywhere! Certified bruh moment! Just kidding, I saw her point. But I was eventually able to talk her into giving it a shot. We walked there under the cover of an umbrella as it poured around us. We reached the coffee shop, walked up to the second floor, sat by the window, and set down our stuff. As Alyssa finished taking off her wet skirt and shawl, I realized her athletic shorts and tanktop weren't the outfit I imagined her wearing when I was to propose to her...but I was determined to go for it anyways. I got down on a knee, and the rest is history! After, our families joined for dinner and we had a sweet, sweet rest of the day celebrating!! Alyssa’s Version: O man, I knew from conversations we’d had earlier that near the end of the school year is where the proposal would land, but I had no idea when! The only time I suspected it might be happening was the night before because it had clicked that he had done some sketchy stuff with my plans. (He indeed did not have homework that would have solicited a change in my swim day plans)! That night, I freaked out, prayed and laid it out to God how excited I was so I’d be able to sleep. The morning of, I went to hangout with Zoie before church, and I straight up said “Zoie I think I’m going to get proposed to”. Her, FULLY KNOWING I was, talked me all the way down to the point where I was convinced it wasn’t gonna happen that day. On top of that, so many things made it so improbable! Pouring rain, drawn out plans, and honestly being so tired. But, because he’s sweet, I decided to go to the coffee shop (even though it was pouring rain) to do some work together. Little did I know, as I was getting comfortable out of my wet clothes (athletic clothes underneath), he decided to get down on one knee, and he made me the happiest girl in the world. Best day ever. Cherry on top was getting to be with our families after and celebrate. Praise God for such a wonderful day!

In the fall of 2022, both Caleb and Alyssa started their freshman years at the University of Wisconsin-Madison; Caleb studying landscape architecture, and Alyssa studying marketing. Both of us had been in the search for a sweet campus ministry to call our community, and we both landed on the Navigators Campus Ministry! Ever since our freshman year, we've found ourselves in the same circles and pursuing very similar things. This includes bible studies, spring break trips, skiing/snowboarding, and our Navigator mini clubs (Tennigators, Navigamers, Navs on the Rocks, Navsketball). One of the biggest things we pursued was serving at Eagle Lake Camps as counselors in Colorado Springs! We had many fun memories there as friends (cave splunking, cliff jumping, sharing the Gospel with littles, being a part of an amazing spidey set up team). For 3 years, we'd served alongside each other! How special, right! It wasn't until halfway through our junior year that things began to change, and it all started with a broken collarbone! Caleb and Alyssa went on our Navs winter break trip at Whitecap Mountain! Caleb was trying out snowboarding for the very first time, and let me tell you, it was a super cold and icy day (not ideal). One thing led to another, and he was taken to the hospital! Continuing to be strong, he wanted to come back to the cabin to spend the rest of his time there with the ministry. There he said something that ABSOLUTELY sparked something in Alyssa. He said "You know, in my life I haven't suffered a lot, so I think this will be good for me". WHO SAYS THAT?! But Alyssa knew why he said that; it's because Caleb is someone who trusts in the Lord so deeply that, even when faced with trials, his faith allows him to see past the pain and sit in the hope and realization of God's good plans for him to grow and prosper through this. From there, she kept her feeling deep down, but not that much, because others could totally tell that she liked him lol :D It wasn't until we began gearing up for our next summer of camp together as program coaches that Caleb started to catch feelings! It was something about the being on mission together for the same purpose, talking late into the night, having a great friendship, playing too many cards, and having goofy to inspiring conversations! I'd say it was kinda like a dream! It was the plane ride back to Wisconsin from Colorado that they shared a sunrise with one another, with some of their favorite pieces of scripture. Lamentations‬ ‭3‬:‭22‬-‭23 “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭19‬:‭1‬ “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” From there, with some faithful steps from Caleb, they went on their first date at Strings Ramen in Madison, and that led to the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th date, where they made it official at the terrace at Memorial Union! April 19th, 2025! ‭

Growing up in a loving family who cared for me well was a huge blessing. What I am most thankful for about my childhood was the example of my parents showing me who the God of the universe was, and what it looked like to follow Him faithfully. As a child, I learned so much about God, Jesus, the Bible. Around 4 years old, I remember reading The Pilgrim's Progress and feeling sad for the protagonist, Christian, and his burden (sin). After my mom explained the burden’s parallel to our sin, I prayed with her to give Jesus my life and ask him to take the burden of my sin as He promises to do for anyone who believes. It wasn't until high school, however, that the impact of that really began to touch other areas of my life. I was faced with the reality of my lack of self-control, my impulsiveness, and my lack of deep relationships with family and friends. I recognized I was not walking in the fruits of the Spirit as defined in the Bible (Galatians 5:22-23). I also realized that I wanted them! So I prayed for self-control sincerely and God helped me! I learned more about how Jesus takes our sin and how he also is central to the process of sanctification (making us more like Him) in us! In college, I learned how to serve and build the Kingdom of God as a leader and friend. I learned through The Navigators ministry how to disciple and invest in others in ways that help them see more of God in everyday life. Through my church, Red Village, I learned more about who God was and what He calls us to. And personally, through times of doubt, I learned how to trust God and let Him strengthen my faith through questions and struggles. I can confidently say that Jesus is the only one worthy of my praise, worship, and life. Through his death and resurrection, He took my sin and now walks with me as I learn to be a child of God! "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, indeed the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Ever since I was young, I knew I grew up in such a loving and caring family. Something I think about often is how much they raised me to be considerate, put myself into others shoes, and do the best I could in whatever I did. With a mix of all of these things, I found myself to be a very positive person, and still am! I am so thankful for that! From birth till around middle school age, I was raised in the Catholic Church. As a kid though, I really dreaded it! (What definitely made it better was the doughnuts we’d get afterwards)! I felt at the time that we didn’t talk about faith in Church, or out of Church. I grew up following a lot of sweet ideas that aren’t wrong, but didn’t quite ground me such as, “do whatever makes you happy” or “go big or go home” OR “YOLO”! It wasn’t until the high school where I was getting really burnt out. I was doing all the clubs, extra-curriculars, sports, working, and even fundraising for great causes. I found myself getting done with each of them saying to myself, “that was it”? Finding the realities of how accomplished I felt by the end of it nowhere compared to the expectations I had beforehand. Not only that, but even through these great things I was accomplishing, it hurt the friendships and relationships around me I cared about the most. All I could think was, why are these “fulfilling things” not actually fulfilling me? Shortly after, I started my freshmen year of college at THE University of Wisconsin-Madison. Woohoo!!! I was so excited to start, I felt like finally being there would answer all my questions; make life complete in a way! The reality was, it was so far from it. After months of planning my dorm decor, I finally got the chance to put it all up! But the only thing I could do in that moment was to break down in tears. I finally had gotten where I wanted to be, and I couldn’t help but cry because the very real reality of being alone. Without family, without friends, in a tiny box of a dorm. With nothing else to turn to, I remembered that the only thing in high school that I remembered being a part of that was not for any type of merit, a point on a resume, or an honors program, was FCA, fellowship of Christian Athletes. I really just loved to hangout with them, play games, and I guess we read the Bible. So, to find friends, I said, why not! Now, this is when I had met a campus ministry called the Navigators, and specifically a sweet woman named Ali. She sat with me, told me about Jesus, truly just wanted to get to know me, and listen. I simply felt loved by her. Slowly but surely, I got to witness what it meant to live a Christian life. People who were so gentle with one another, considerate of each other feelings, willing to give an arm and a leg for one another. So, genuine. I began to connect why. It’s because they believe in God. A God who loves, treats them as beloved children, and paves a path for them. A God who understood why we always feel so broken, and in turn, decided to send His own Son as a sacrifice for us. The heavy burden of sin had now become light. They were able to walk and speak differently from the rest of the world because of it. I realized, God not only did that for them, but He did that for me, He’s welcoming me into that same reality, all I have to to is accept it, and no matter my broken past, he takes me as I am. So November of 2022, I said yes. I looked to my past of pridefulness, lust, and shame, turned, and never looked back. I now live my life on God’s grace, given to me, not because anything I’ve done, but all on what He’s done for me. Here is a verse that has stuck with me all the way from the beginning: Now to him who can do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to His power that is at work with us. Ephesians 3:20 My own striving will never even begin to amount to what God can do, and He’s proven that in my life. If you have questions, I’d love to share personally with you on how God has moved mountains in my life.