Our story of the Lord's faithfulness and kindness in our lives started in 2018 when Mikey started attending CBC where I was already a member. We met and were able to form a friendship through serving the body and individually growing in the Lord. We were initially attracted to one another but strove to focus on our spiritual maturity and to trust God's timing. The Lord had us both in seasons of refinement as He graciously exposed sin and strengthened our beliefs in His Word and our church’s leadership. As I was learning to trust the Lord more fully, Mikey was growing in his conviction and value of what a Proverbs 31 wife looks like. As he examined scripture, his affection and appreciation grew for the woman that I was becoming. All the while, I was oblivious and fighting to choose contentment in my singleness and focusing on pursuing my own personal holiness. With much prayer, counsel, and a little apprehension, Mikey asked his pastor (who is also my dad) for the opportunity to pursue me. Having proved himself in faithfulness and godliness as a church member and as a potential future son-in-law, he was given the go-ahead to approach me for the first date.

For our first date we met for coffee at Blue Door. I was initially apprehensive and unsure while he was excited and hopeful. That was the start of an intentional season as we sought to learn each other's character, convictions and theology. We both had running lists of various topics that we approached on each date. We also used email as a major form of communication in those early months. Through this form of communication, it was really helpful to take the time to thoroughly explain ourselves and prayerfully respond to each other’s inquiries. That is affectionately now known as the interrogation season. We knew that we wanted to be so wise and cautious because we were both in the same church body. We also wanted to guard and protect Natalie’s emotions knowing that she would be very excited. We didn’t want to move too fast and wanted to avoid flippancy and future unnecessary heartache. While Mikey was convinced that he was ready to marry me before the first date, it took me a few months to gradually let my guard down as I learned more about Mikey’s character; specifically his kindness and patience towards me, and his respect for God's Word. Through that time and labor it became clear that this was God's will and that His timing is perfect. Our favorite dates were going to parks with both Natalie, Mikey's daughter, and Molly, my dog. While he would cook breakfast, we would have fruitful conversations about our beliefs, hopes, preferences, sin, God’s character, weaknesses, strengths, etc. We look back on those memories and cherish the Lord's provision and grace He has extended to both of us as we continued to know one another more deeply.

I had no idea that Mikey had any intentions of asking for my hand in marriage on this day. The day prior, Mikey and his dad had taken their boat out to the “hole in the wall” to stage and prep for the next day’s event. The day of, we kayaked out to St. Lucie Inlet Preserve State Park and over breakfast talked about the Lord's goodness and kindness throughout our dating season. Mikey was convinced that I knew he was proposing this day, when in reality it was the last thing on my mind. He kept pulling things out of his backpack while thinking I was assuming he was going to pull out a ring at any time. I live my life oblivious to most things! We walked out to the Jetty where he then read me a poem that he had worked on over the last 3 months. We had joked about that poem since Christmas, so I didn’t think anything of it when he said he had finally finished it and was going to read it to me. Mikey eloquently outlined the Lord's weaving of our lives in His sovereignty as only God could. It wasn’t until the line that said he had asked my dad for his blessing that I realized what was actually happening! He got on one knee and presented me with my great-grandmother's engagement ring that had been passed down through my family. As much of a surprise as it was, without a single doubt I said yes, knowing that I wanted to spend my life with him and be the helpmeet for him. The day ended with a celebration with both families and close friends at my parents home- another sweet surprise to me.

Through all this, we are thankful that we guarded one another’s hearts and bodies throughout this sweet season. We recognize that our labor was with purpose, to one day hopefully be united in marriage always recognizing that the marriage will be more important than any moment, and we are so excited for you to celebrate this day together with us! - The future Mrs. Knepper