John and Anna’s story started in the most unexpected way—playing a game called “Fishball,” which is basically volleyball on a tennis court. What began as a large group of friends quickly turned into a close-knit circle that spent weekends together dancing, traveling, and showing up to just about every community event they could find. At first, John wrote Anna off because she shared the same name as his brother’s girlfriend (now sister-in-law). But about a year and a half into their friendship, his feelings changed. As their friendship deepened, they found themselves spending more one-on-one time together, going on dates, though neither was ready to define the relationship. A few months later, Anna chose to step away, knowing they both needed time to grow for a lasting relationship. A year and a half later, they reconnected through a mutual friend and realized how much they had both grown. John had never fallen out of love, and Anna saw the change in him that made her fall in love too. They officially started dating soon after. John asked Anna to be his girlfriend at Sassafras Winery, and 11 months later, he proposed in that very same spot. They are excited to build a life together centered on their faith, serving others and their community. They love traveling, exploring the fashion world, and spending their free time staying active, playing games, and being with friends.