Join us in celebrating the union of our marriage

From Joanna's POV: I arrived home from Argentina in 2023 with the Lord having done sweet work in my heart through my trip. I returned more thankful for my family and not really interested in dating. To my surprise, I got a text from an unfamiliar number in Feb. of 2024. AND it was from Konnor Cabe. I knew exactly who Konnor Cabe was when he texted me. Throughout all of college and the year after, I regularly noticed him when we were in the same setting. We have very close mutual friends who I admire for their love for God, and so I knew a friend of theirs would be a friend of me. In all of these different settings, Konnor seemed to be kind, fun, and a godly guy. He texted asking I'd want to meet up to get to know each other better, and I was both ecstatic and nervous. I was not ready to jump into anything romantic immediately and I clarified that with him, but we both were on the same page about seeking to build a friendship. Our first "hang-out" was for coffee (a pretty casual first date).. but that turned into dinner with my family (okay, who does that on their first date, meet the family?), and then a young adult Bible study in Coldwater. From our first hang-out, it was clear that Konnor Cabe was someone delightful, fascinating, and intriguing. Building a friendship with him felt like the most natural thing in the world. After our first hangout we started calling and meeting up weekly. Each meeting was an unique experience in which I found that we shared similar values, priorities, life rhythms, and loves for God. Our conversations were often simple, fun, serious, and theoretical. I always left challenged to grow and was encouraged by him. Our friendship clearly was a gift from God to me, and the means by which God continued working in my heart to grow my trust in Him. When Konnor asked me to be his girlfriend in May, I was delighted! Throughout dating, it was clear that our future desire was to marry each other, and as we prayed, God confirmed our steps. From Konnor: I remember clearly the first time I noticed Joanna. It was in an RA training and she was wearing a mask (2020 smh), yet still, I thought “the sun rose in her eyes.” What really separated her though, was her character and faith. Even from a distance, her love for the Lord was evident. Seeing this sparked in me the desire to get to know her more (at one point even reaching out to one of her friends about her), but ultimately nothing came of it. For the next few years, I did not think much more about her. However, in late 2023, my desire to get to know Joanna was resurrected. A friend was telling how she had recently arrived home from an extended trip to Argentina, which planted a seed, and eventually led to me reaching out. Though our first “hangout” was strictly with the intent of getting to know each other, there was something about Joanna that rocked my world. Never had I felt so naturally on the same page as someone, and yet so curious about them at the same time. While I never would have predicted that 9 months later we’d be planning a wedding together, I’m not sure I would have been surprised either. As we continued to meet up, and soon began to date, my curiosity and delight in the relationship only deepened, which continues to this day. Over the course of our relationship, I noticed two things that gave me confidence Joanna was *the one*. First: praying, reading, and meaningful conversation with Jo was a natural practice in our relationship from the start. Second: every time I suspected we were heading towards a difficult or potentially strenuous conversation, the Lord seemed to turn that very conversation for our good and encouragement in the faith. Seeing these aspects of our relationship gave me assurance that good fruit was being borne, and that the Lord was working among us. We enter into marriage in faith, trusting that he will continue to work among us, and that he alone can provide a strong foundation for our future.