We’re getting married! We’re so excited to celebrate with the people we love most.

If you had told either of us a year ago that we'd be getting married, we probably wouldn't have believed you. Jeff and I lived in the same town of Van Wert, Ohio. We attended the same church and school, and our families were deeply connected. My brother and Jeff's brother were close friends, Jeff was close with my sister, and our mothers were in a prayer group at church. Somehow, despite all those connections, we never really got to know each other. Years later, after life had taken us in different directions, my mom decided to help by working her network. She asked if she could help find me a husband and suggested Jeff after talking with his mother of course. I said yes, though I wasn't exactly sure about the long-distance so I didn’t making things easy for him. Thankfully, Jeff is persistent. When we finally met for coffee in December 2025, Jeff arrived with a pickleball injury and I arrived fully prepared to "test the waters." Instead, we talked nonstop for two hours until the coffee shop closed. I left wondering whether I'd just been on a date or attended a business meeting. Apparently, what I thought felt like a business meeting was exactly what caught Jeff's attention. A few hours later, he sent a text I'll never forget: "Two hours wasn't enough time with you. I'd like to take you out again." Our second date lasted even longer, and despite living nearly 700 miles apart, we quickly realized there was something special between us. What followed was a whirlwind of long-distance phone calls, hours-long conversations, and a relationship that felt surprisingly easy from the very beginning. We became official on January 25, 2026, said "I love you" on Valentine's Day, and on April 8, 2026, Jeff proposed on a beach in Costa Rica at sunset. Looking back, it's clear that God was weaving our story together long before we realized it. What started as two families connected years ago became a love story neither of us could have planned, but one we're incredibly grateful to be living. #ItsABautzTime