A Long Expected WeddingA Long Expected Wedding

Anthony and Aubrey were both raised in Christian, homeschooling families in the Kalamazoo area. They had a few interactions through mutual friends and homeschooling events growing up but did not officially meet until 2018 when they both started consistently attending the Crossroads lifegroup at Calvary Bible Church. From there they slowly started to become friends as they grew in their faith and in their involvement in the local church. Short conversations led to longer conversations over social media which led to longer, in person, conversations after church events and group hangouts. As their friendship grew, both suspected it could grow into something more. In February 2020, a sleep-deprived Anthony summoned the courage to ask Aubrey if she wanted to grab smoothies from Tropical Smoothie Cafe. From there Anthony stole her away to a nearby park and after another long conversation and a walk, Anthony told her that he liked her and that he wanted to pursue a relationship with her. Aubrey bashfully agreed that the feelings were mutual. After a couple dates, they took their first trip together to the Ark Encounter with their Crossroads lifegroup in early March 2020. A week later, Covid shut the world down. For the next spring and summer, Anthony and Aubrey spent time almost exclusively with each other, going hiking, biking, and hammocking. Through that they learned a lot about each other and started to make future plans together. After that time they slowly incorporated a regular routine back into their relationship in fall 2020 as Anthony began work on his degree and as they both became involved again in their lifegroup and joined the Calvary choir. The next few years were filled with more dates, more church events, and, in God's providence, a breakup and reunion. They experienced many ups and downs in this process, but grew closer to the Lord and to each other through each trial and triumph. Fast forward to fall 2024, Anthony had chosen to respect both of their parents' wishes to wait until he was closer to finishing his degree to propose. In October 2024, armed with her father's blessing and a ring that had been burning a hole in his pocket for three years, Anthony popped the much awaited question. He once again asked Aubrey if she wanted to grab smoothies and took her on a walk to Lillian Anderson Nature Preserve. Sitting on a bench under the "Magnificent Pines", Anthony took a knee and Aubrey tearfully and giddily said "Yes!" "The heart of a man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps" (Proverbs 16:9) Anthony and Aubrey did not plan to date for 5+ years before getting engaged, but the Lord's timing is perfect. They truly would not be the couple or individuals they are today without every step they've walked through, leaning on the Lord and trusting that His plan was better than anything they could have predicted, even when they didn't understand it. September 19th, 2025 stands as a testimony of His sovereignty and His goodness.