Of all the things I got out of my time at Texas Lutheran University, my future wife is what I value most. I always had a feeling I would meet my wife in college, but I didn’t expect it to take four and half semesters. Enter Organic Chemistry. It was a difficult class, but worth every moment. I was placed in a lab group and made responsible for compiling lab reports. When I read Kelli’s first lab report I felt total awe; there were charts and graphs and color coordination, of course. I distinctly remember using her report as a template for all of mine from that day forward. She seemed to have it all together, all the time...but it was that lab report that made a lasting impression on me. We became friendly in class and lab, but it wasn’t until we were studying in the library one random day that we first exchanged numbers. I have never looked back. As our relationship has grown, I feel abundantly blessed by the journey the Lord has helped us through. She almost always came to my soccer games and she was there when I graduated with my Doctorate of Chiropractic. Kelli lets me be myself no matter what and that makes it easy for me to support her in all she chooses to pursue. God had a plan for us that began with organic chemistry at TLU. I am grateful for that overly challenging science based under graduate program for many reasons. More than anything, I am grateful that I get to spend the rest of my life with Kelli, the girl I love with my whole heart.

Our 3 year anniversary was in November 2017. Andrew and I had decided not to buy gifts for one another. Instead, we planned to celebrate with a nice, romantic dinner during a trip to Boston in December. On Saturday, December 8, 2017 the first snow of the year blanketed Boston. Andrew said he had found a photographer to take winter photos in the Boston Common for the first snow. With Andrew’s encouragement, I dressed for dinner early in order to be ready for our photo shoot. Once we were all dressed up, we walked to where I assumed the photographer was. In reality, we were walking to planned location where Andrew had arranged for the photographer to capture the special moment. A flood of emotions swept over me as I realized he was reaching into his coat- shock, surprise, joy- everything! At that point, I had forgotten about the photographer, but they had been following us the entire time, so we did end up having a photo session after all. You will find the snowy images of the day I said “yes” on our wedding website. That day we shared an adventure in the snow in Boston. Andrew sometimes carried me as I was in heels... in the park... in the snow! By the end of the session, I realized my left hand was pink and felt frozen because I had not been wearing gloves. I mean, who gets a gorgeous new ring and puts a glove over it? The last pictures from the proposal were taken on Acorn Street, the oldest street in the country and the most photographed street in Boston. Then, we made our way to a cozy cafe to drink hot chocolate, eat brunch, and warm up. Later that night, we did end up going on our anniversary dinner in the North End of Boston – It was the perfect ending to the perfect day! We began the next chapter of our lives in the oldest park in the country.