And So The Adventure Begins...

Justin and I met at Liberty University on the first day of my freshman year at school. Justin was in his sophomore year at Liberty at this time and both of us were trying to avoid dating during this semester. However, we became close friends from the very beginning--hanging out together at hall events, sitting together in our shared class, and attending some typical LU happenings going on at the beginning of the school year in groups, but mostly getting to know each other. We were best friends for about two months before Justin finally told me of his feelings, and I thought that day would never come, but when it did I was so happy. He even emailed my Dad in China before asking me to be his girlfriend with a box of donuts. The fact that my parents liked him and allowed us to date almost a whole year before either of them got to meet him has been confirmation from the beginning and I am so glad that he got to fill in for my family when they were so far away. Being with Justin has always felt like coming home and he made Virginia feel like home for me. I am so glad that he asked me to be his girlfriend on October 20th, 2015.

It was in February of last year when I asked Hannah's father for her hand in marriage. I/we had been looking for rings before that, but I did not buy one until I got the "Yes" for Mr. and Mrs. Boeckman. Towards the end of February, I decided on a ring. I was able to design the ring myself, with a diamond from my grandmother's engagement, and a rose gold setting from Kay. It took them a month to build it and send it to me. I received the ring on April 1st. I looked at the ring several times everyday for a month, it was gorgeous! Then came the proposal plan. It so happened that the Boeckman's invited me to go over to China, where they were missionaries, and to join them on their family vacation to Australia and New Zealand. So I was like, "Heck yeah I'll propose to my best friend in another country!" But figuring out where I should do it was the main issue. So in May I put that ring in a pair of my socks and took it over seas to another country. We spent a month in China, and while there I almost got too impatient to wait and just proposed there, but I decided to wait. We then headed off to Australia. The plan was to do it in Sydney, but plans changed. Although it was pretty there it just wasn't right. Then we went to New Zealand, and that place is gorgeous! Friends of the Boeckman's owned a pretty cabin on the south island, and let us stay in it for a few days. It was so wonderful with all the mountains and snow in July. I had already planned to propose to Hannah at the cabin beforehand, but I needed to figure out how exactly I would get her outside to do it. So, I planned a "photo shoot" to give us a reason to dress up a little bit. While taking pictures, with the beautiful landscape in the background, I got down on one knee and asked, "Hannah Marie, will you marry me?" She said, "Heck yes!!!" I kept that ring a secret for almost four months, and I took it to three different countries in a pair socks. It was so worth it. July 15th, 2017 was a great day.

We will celebrate three years of dating/engagement on the day of our wedding and we could not be more excited to continue our life together and finish up this season of long distance. The Lord has been the foundation of our relationship since the beginning and we both can say confidently that we would not be Hannah and Justin without His radical love. The best is yet to come! Thank you for celebrating with us--either in person or in spirit! Love is so beautiful and the Lord is so kind to have allowed us to get to experience such sweet love together.