Sarah and I first met during the summer before our Junior year at JMU at an Intervarsity Christian Fellowship Leadership retreat. On the retreat, there was a campfire out back one night and I sat next to Sarah, not knowing who she was. Soon after, the mountain mist became a steady drizzle. Our peers started to slowly return to the shelter of the lodge, but Sarah and I continued to get to know each other at the sizzling fire. In the darkness and rain, I knew Sarah was beautiful because of what she said, her voice, and her sweet laugh. About a week later, I asked her out on our first date to Shenandoah National Park. A year later, I asked her to marry me at Switzer Lake in George Washington National Forest. Meeting Sarah in the light and warmth of a campfire in a dark misty valley will always be a symbol I hold of our relationship. Our relationship is founded on our focus on the light, that is God’s love, for the people of this dark and broken world. I will never forget the night we met. I am excited to have you all as witnesses of our marriage on July 23, 2023, and beyond.

As Levi and I began talking about getting married, I told him I wanted to date for at least a year before getting engaged - although truthfully, I would’ve married him long before then. So naturally, on our one-year anniversary, he proposed! It was September 23rd, the last warm Friday before the cool weather came in. He had planned a sunset picnic at our favorite place, Switzer Lake, with our favorite take-out. We ate dinner, enjoyed the sunset over the mountains, and set up my phone to record a video of us dancing - cheesy, yes, but we began doing this early on in our relationship and have captured many sweet memories. We danced and he spun me, and when I turned around, he was on his knee. I was so surprised and at a complete loss for words, all I could do was smile. He told me he loved me and that he wanted to serve the Lord with me for the rest of his life. Every day I spend with Levi is a blessing and points me to the unfailing, pure love that the Lord has for us. We hope that our marriage does the same for those around us.