July 2015- We began dating before Brendan’s sophomore year of high school and before my junior year during a summer mission trip, all the way back in 2015! Much of our dating relationship was long distance, as Kayley spent 4 months in Taiwan and then Brendan was at college in Maryland. Long distance was not easy or fun—but our relationship together is one that we would never change! Our journey of growth over the years has allowed us to learn how to trust, support, and forgive each other. We grew in our love for following the Lord together, and experienced growing deeper in our love for each other as we have become best friends!

After being apart for some time, Brendan was coming home for Easter weekend and we were planning a day to spend together. We planned to have an early morning picnic on Saturday. The weather was beautiful and the cherry blossoms at my favorite spot to photograph were at their peak that week and I wanted my sister (Grace) to take pictures of us there. So that morning, Brendan picked me up. The sun was shining and the birds were singing, it was a bit cool but the sunshine made it feel warm. When we got to the location, he took out a tray of food and coffee and mugs. We walked a little ways to where the trees were and then I noticed a beautiful picnic set up. I began to feel so overcome with emotion as we sat down. There were beautiful flowers in mason jars, pillows, a wooden box that I bought for him as a gift a couple of years ago, and a tied up stack of folders that read “Chapter 1” on the top. Brendan instructed me to open up the first folder and inside was a picture of when we went to my junior prom in 11th grade. Instantly, the tears started flowing. Brendan sweetly retold some of his favorite memories of us from the very first year we started dating. Then he told me to open the next folder. In each folder there were pictures of us from that particular year. After opening up 6 of the folders, crying over the sweet photos and all of the beautiful memories he shared, there was one more folder that read “Chapter 7+”. When I opened up that folder, it was a picture of us at our wedding venue that we toured with our wedding date. He then took my hands and helped me to stand up, and just like I had dreamed for all of these years, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him! I said YES!! It was the most beautiful morning and every little detail was beyond my wildest dreams. We can not be more excited for this next chapter of our love story and to become husband and wife!