We’re now Mr. & Mrs. but we want you to celebrate with us!

What started on a dating site, first began with a comment on a picture of Maddi in China. I noted how amazing it was that she lived abroad. We started messaging and from there our interest in one another grew. I finally got the nerve to ask for her number, and with a phone call we made a first date... a coffee date. I got to Starbucks and waited for her. While I stood outside looking out for her, she called me and I told her I was outside. I thought I was being stood up when she told me she didn't see me. Funny how things go, she was at the wrong Starbucks! I ended up buying our drinks and asked if she would like to meet at the park instead. She said yes. I sat patiently waiting at the park hoping she would show up. When she finally did I was love struck. Sounds corny I know. We hugged and sat down excited to get to know each other more. Long story short, I fell in love with her. She was beautiful, kind, caring, smart and most of all, she shared the same faith as I did. I ended up meeting her family and as each day went by my love grew. I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her. While we spent Christmas in Hawaii with my family, my parents were able to meet Maddi and give me their blessing. I had talked to Maddi’s family and called her parents too, to let them know I wanted to pop the question. On the last day of our trip in Hawaii, I got down on one knee and asked Maddi to marry me. She was truly suprised how it all came together and I couldn’t have been happier she said yes. Dreams do come true!

Heading into 2020, I was sure it was gonna be my year. My sister had a come to Jesus moment with me & helped me envision what I wanted that year & how I would get there. “Finding a new job, going back to school, & moving out of my sister’s” were all on my list. Deep down I had a 4th hope too... “to find love”, but was too afraid to admit that one out loud. With lots of prayers & support from family & friends, God began opening up doors for me. At the end of January I landed a new job. Shortly after that, a friend reached out about moving into an apartment with her & a classmate. Things were looking up! As you all know though, this crazy thing called COVID hit our world. Nothing like mandatory social distancing to kill a girl’s dating vibe! Luckily I used a lot of that alone time to start going back to school. By June I had met my first 3 goals or at least on track to achieve. That left “finding love” still on the table, hence me getting back on a dating app. Not long after, I got a message from a guy with a great smile who was originally from Hawaii. His name was Brandon. We began messaging & I probably almost got fired for being on my phone so much those first couple days. Then I got a call & Brandon asked me on a first date. Bashful me accidentally went to the wrong Starbucks so Brandon grabbed our orders & we met at the park instead. After I (finally) got there, we talked & had so much in common from teaching abroad, to being foodies, to valuing family, & most of all our faith. From there, Brandon just kept pursuing me. We shared more of our lives together- friends, family, interests, dreams. I remember half joking with my friend early on that I should “marry this guy”. Well I’m so glad her predictions were right because Brandon asked me to marry him on the 2nd to last day of 2020, truly making all my 2020 dreams come true! God has been proven so faithful this past year & Brandon and I believe he will continue to be in our future together.