We fell in love parted by the sea, as we researched leatherbacks on the shorelines of Grenada and snappers on the riverbanks of Georgia, as we studied dolphins in an Australian bay and greeted orcas on the Bering Sea. Together, we canoed with gentle manatees in Wakulla Springs and kayaked beneath the prehistoric wingspans of blue herons on the Schuylkill. We hunted for salamanders on the flooded trails of Sand Springs. We fished at Blue Marsh and Ontelaunee and just about anywhere else deemed deeper than a dog dish. We walked hand in hand by the Susquehanna River and sat reading quietly by the creek. We snorkeled with sea turtles in the Cenotes of Mexico and dove alongside sharks in Costa Rica. More than once, we flew across thousands of miles of ocean with eager thoughts of reuniting after months apart, and on July 15, 2018, in the place we call home, beside a babbling stream, we said YES to a lifetime of more memories, more experiences, more adventures, more love.

It all began with two gossiping nurses (his brother Aaron and her mother) discussing Ben and Kelseyleigh's interests, likes, dislikes, and values. "She always has a nose in a book? Him too!" "He loves to travel? So does she!" It didn't take long for the two of them to realize the potential suitors had A LOT in common. That night, Aaron went home and told Ben about this amazing girl he should meet. Her mother went home and triumphantly declared as she walked through the door, "I found your future husband!" Turns out, Mother was right...at least, this once.

On November 8th, Ben asked if Kelseyleigh would like to grab coffee at Barnes & Noble (a site that would become a frequent date spot). After hours of great conversation, including the topic of the jobs he and she applied for in Alaska and Australia respectively, Ben invited her to go see Interstellar in theaters. It was a 10 PM showing, which normally would equate to Kelseyleigh falling asleep before the opening credits. But she was too excited and captivated by the man sitting beside her to dream of sleeping. Ben now knows he shouldn't start a movie past 9 PM and expect Kelseyleigh to stay awake.

In the first two years of their relationship, Ben and Kelseyleigh spent a lot of time apart. Between Ben's travels to Alaska and Georgia and Kelseyleigh's summer abroad in Australia and finishing school at F&M, they became experts at coordinating Skype calls, snail mail packages, and extremely long emails. It wasn't always easy, but their relationship grew stronger for it. Though their time together was limited, the waiting made it all the sweeter. Their favorite song during this time was "The Longer the Waiting" by Josh Turner.

After an absolutely incredible Saturday together, Kelseyleigh had NO IDEA what Sunday had in store for her. Ben Hepler is typically the worst liar on the planet. Nobody hates to lie more than he does, and so she was positive she'd know when he was going to propose. She was wrong. They began their day as they do most Sundays: worshiping at church, after which they enjoyed a lovely date at B&N, reflecting on the many dates they had there since their first date over three years prior. As Kelseyleigh enjoyed writing in the rain, Ben was silently freaking out. Luckily, when they left, the weather had taken a brighter turn. A week earlier, Ben had told her that his family friends had invited them to dinner, but on their way he wanted to stop in Robesonia to look for a rare bird that had been sighted there (pure deception). They had walked this path many times before, always amazed by its beauty, but there was an especially stunning quality on this particular day, and they both marveled at God's creation as they walked. Leading up to that spot, he suggested they step closer to the creek to take a photo (meanwhile, she's still looking for this supposed bird). After that morning’s storm, the water rushed across the rocks and the sunlight backlit the green of the surrounding trees. Little did Kelseyleigh realize, behind one of those trees hid Ben's good friend Eric with a camera ready to document what was about to unfold. Since Kelseyleigh was so focused on taking photos of this gorgeous scenery, Ben had to point out the small bottle resting on the bank. Forever oblivious, she thought it was a geocache. He took it out of the bottle and told her to read it aloud. Only three quarters of the way down did she catch on that this perfectly written note was put there for her to find by the man of her dreams, the same man holding a matching piece of paper that read “Will You Marry Me?” She of course said YES!