Once upon a time, Marianna and Joshua met when they were both assigned to be dean's aides. Marianna's first opinion of Josh was that he was godly, good with people, and upright. Joshua's first impression of Marianna was that she was godly, caring, and willing to help. Though working little together, they became casual friends and would hang out with mutual friends.

When Joshua became an RM, he began helping Marianna with video chapel, and they gradually began to talk. They developed a tradition of asking each other a different question every week. Joshua seemed to become increasingly eager to hear the questions Marianna had prepared. They developed inside jokes about penguins and King Bob and found themselves wanting to know more and more about each other. As Marianna began recognizing her interest and praying, Joshua had already been interested and asking after Marianna. One day, Marianna decided to bake cookies for students for midterms. When Joshua heard this plan, his eyes and smile lit up. Seeing Joshua's excitement over cookies, Marianna offered to save him some just to be nice. Joshua saw this as Marianna first showing interest. She brought Joshua the cookies in a glass container...Joshua messaged Marianna through a work app to return her container, and Marianna used this opportunity to give Joshua her number for when he needed to reach her off the clock.

Joshua considers that day, November 11th, 2024,as when they began talking. They shared more about themselves, developed excuses to get together, and made crazy stories. Eventually they met for Marianna to give Joshua more cookies. Before meeting, Joshua suggested what a lovely night it would be for a walk. One walk turned into many walks, which turned into Joshua asking Marianna on a lunch date. On their first date, they shared their salvation testimonies. Over Christmas break, they talked, facetimed a LOT, and watched Avatar the Last Airbender. They continued asking many questions, starting their relationship with a solid basis of friendship, understanding, and trust. Each step of the way praying that the Lord would guide and help them, and each step of the way God answered. On January 17th, 2025, after speaking with her father, Joshua and Marianna became official. As they dated, Marianna and Joshua grew closer and brought each other encouragement, support, and laughter.

On December 20th, 2025 Joshua asked Marianna to marry him; and because the answer was so understood, she almost forgot to respond, but said "Yes!" It was a joyful, happy, yet steady yes--the kind of yes that can only come with an unwavering steadiness, certainty, and peace. Yes, Marianna and Joshua chose eachother, but none of it would have been possible without prayer and the Lord.