we're getting married!

I met Marni in the Spring of 2019. We were RA’s together from 2019 to March 21st of 2020. In the fall of 2019, we started RA training on the same team as Resident Assistants in Oliver Hall at Whitworth. The work of community building provided a shared context for our friendship. I was struck by Marni’s energy and enthusiasm. I remember admiring her unselfish willingness to attend and support our team members Primetimes. By October 2019, I decided I wanted to ask Marni out on a date. I planned to wait till May when we would be off contract. Once off contract, we would be free to date each other. In January, Marni and I saw each other with other friends for breakfast every day. This was when our friendship started converging toward a romantic relationship. We decided that we would date in May at the end of the school year. But covid had other plans. Whitworth shut down in March ending our time as RAs together. We were sent home to finish our semester. Since we were no longer RAs on the same team, we were free to start our relationship. So we started our relationship 313 miles apart. I was living at home on Whidbey Island while Marni went home to the South Hill in Spokane. We did not see each other in person for 106 days. Over the next 938 days, Marni and I lived out our relationship. We walked through Holmberg Park, which included a memorable Valentine's Day Sunrise with snow on the ground. We cooked meals together but also ate more meals out together. We dressed up and did homework together. We lived life. During this time, we both graduated from Whitworth, Marni started her role as a Graduate Assistant Ministry Intern (GAMI) and I started work as an Associate Developer at Expeditors. In the fall of 2022, we decided to get married. In December, I bought Marni’s engagement ring. I also bought an additional ceramic box for the ring. Ebey’s Landing is one of my favorite spots in Washington. On a clear day, Ebey’s has views of both the Olympic and the Cascade Mountain Ranges. I could not wait to propose to Marni with such sights! Marni was in Israel for the first three weeks of January 2023 and we would see each other the last week of January. At first, I decided that I would propose Monday, January 30th. But for logistical reasons (which my Mom pointed out) it made more sense to propose on the 29th which is the birthday of my late Grandma. After church, Marni and I went to Gordon’s Fusion Cuisine. Then we finally went to Ebey’s Landing. We hiked up to the lookout point. I had Marni look toward the water and Mt. Tahoma as if to take a photo. After all, the day was picturesque. I had the ceramic ring box in my jacket pocket and I had left the soft protective bubble wrap on. I fumbled with the paper for three too many beats. The clock was ticking and I made hasty noises to stay put. This only served to further tip Marni off. She turned, facing me, right after my knee touched the ground. Laughing, she took the ring from me and then asked me to ask her to marry her. I did so. After we soaked in the moment and memorialized the event with photos. We walked down the bluff and onto the beach. We watched the sunset. Walked to our car and called and texted family and went home. Now the work of marriage begins! We are so excited to celebrate with you!