As the pandemic of 2019 had led to social distancing, quarantines, and remote working, we were one of the "lucky" few professionals who were still practicing in-person. Many times, we passed each other in the clinic's hallways, consulted over therapies, ran into each other at the convenience store, but never did we foresee a friendship outside work. Santon had arrived in Pittsburgh in the summer of 2020 to start his second year of residency in ambulatory care pharmacy at UPMC. Marla was in her first year as a family medicine physician, practicing at UPMC Matilda Theiss clinic in the Hill District. It is at this clinic that our "work moms," Holly & Vaughny, played matchmaker in what has now blossomed to be the marriage we celebrate with family & friends and seek to fulfill our union in Christ. After one lunch whereby we had shared individual interests and upcoming weekend plans, Holly & Vaughny planted the seed (giving to Santon Marla's cell phone number), likely acknowledging that Marla & Santon are both interested in the outdoors, with Marla soon to go on a hike, and Santon, seeking to find outdoor activities that might try to match those he had done while in Oregon. As Santon reached out to Marla on a Sabbath for the initial DM, it had just happened that Marla's friend (thanks Jayne!) had dropped out of the planned hike and Santon subbed in for her. Initially planned to be a 4 mile or less hike, this turned out to be a 14 mile hike as the two connected, almost instantaneously. The next few days-months-years, have been full of blessings, growth, the most concise way to sum it up is maybe: ... The hike The COVID ERA BUBBLE dates Human Resources concerns/The O-K from the preceptors Marla & Santon travel to Kenya Santon returns to Oregon for work Marla takes a break from work Marla joins Santon in Oregon The twins (🐈 Manjano & Tangawizi 🐈) are adopted Santon's secretive trip to meet Marla's parents - the blessings Another trip to Kenya - the proposal The engagement party by Heather! WE ARE GETTING MARRIED REALITY ... .... and God knows what's next ...

I was exhausted as my body had still not adjusted to Kenya’s time zone after over a week. Santon’s best friend Steve arrived to Kakamega the day prior, presumably to celebrate Santon’s milestone birthday. It was the best surprise. Before bed, Santon said, “make sure we are all up at 6am to go see the sunrise”. Yeah right, I thought; I figured I would make sure Santon and Steve were up to go to the beautiful viewpoint a half mile away. I ended up waking up shortly before 6am, not entirely convinced I needed to leave my bed. So I stumbled there half asleep with them. I remember wondering why Santon looked at my ashy hands as we left his home (LOL). We arrived at the Rock just before daybreak. Santon urged me to sit down so he could get some practice shots with his Nikon while I cluelessly talked about my dream from the night prior. It was not long before he sat down next to me with a book he created. We flipped through the pictures of Our Journey, the story of our love. Halfway through, I realized I knew exactly what the next chapter held; our most beautiful one yet! My “YES” could be heard from the Kakamega Forest!!!