We Are Married!

We are both from the small village of Granville. We never really knew each other very well until last spring when we went on a trip together to the African nation of Zimbabwe. After that, we began to work together at our local church, engaging with college students on a nearby campus. By the end of that summer, we were both interested in each other. We spent hours sitting on benches talking and hanging out in coffee shops. We went to a concert together and a week later we were dating!

Our first date was on a Thursday night, September 12, 2019. We were supposed to meet in our office at the church, which we affectionately called the "Shoebox" because of its size and shape. About an hour before we were meeting, Hannah called me and asked if I could come a little early to talk. My mind was racing, I had no idea what she wanted to talk about before our date even began. When I arrived she looked more nervous than I had ever seen her before. Then, she timidly asked if before we went on our date she could give me a "makeover." I had no idea what to say, and no sense of fashion at all, so I said, "sure!" not really knowing what she meant or what we were doing. A few hours later I had a completely new wardrobe. We ended up spending the evening at a small, local restaurant called Snapshots Lounge in Granville. It was an absolutely delightful evening, and I think we both knew right then that something special was happening.

On June 7th, 2020 I asked Hannah Jane to marry me. Certain spots in Granville have been meaningful to us as we have dated in our small village. One of those places was a small park on Jones Rd that we affectionately have named the "Little Park." There have been many nights over the past year where we would pull into the park and sit and talk for hours and hours. In the fall we walked through the woods of the park, hand in hand, talking about our future dreams and where it felt like life was going. Hannah had told me repeatedly not to propose to her in a public, crowded place, so a small park felt just right. I wanted every aspect of the proposal to be intentional. Because we have always talked openly and honestly about when we would get engaged, I knew it would be hard to surprise her completely. When we had been dating for around six weeks, we walked past a house with chickens and Hannah said with a little glint in her eye that if I caught her a chicken she would marry me. I didn't grab one that day, but I kept it in mind. For the past year, Hannah had consistently mentioned wanting a specific ring that was a family heirloom. She also stated repeatedly that she wanted a puppy named June. A week before the proposal I got the ring, but her family convinced her that the heirloom wasn't for her. Two days before the proposal I drove down to North Carolina with my mom and bought a puppy White Golden Retriever. We named her June. The next day with the help of some friends, we planned out the proposal. I bought a chicken at a local store and my friends laid out the chicken, the heirloom ring, the backdrop, and the puppy at the park the following evening as I took Hannah to dinner. After a nice, outdoor dinner at one of her favorite places, we drove to the Little Park. Waiting for her there was a chicken in a box, a cute blanket with lanterns and lights, a family ring, an adorable puppy named June, and a question that would change both of our lives forever.

We are married! Everything turned out wonderful at the Welsh Hills Inn! The weather was gorgeous and the setting was absolutely beautiful. Our immediate families gathered on the warm, Saturday afternoon and Pastor Tom led the small ceremony. Check out the Photos section to see the pictures! The link will take you to the video of the wedding! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uh3wltonfOs

Vows: Tim Keller in his book The Meaning of Marriage writes, “To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God. It is what we need more than anything. It liberates us from pretense, humbles us out of our self-righteousness, and fortifies us for any difficulty life can throw at us.” Do you (name) covenant, before God and vow before these witnesses to take (name) to be your lawfully and spiritually wedded (wife/husband) Hannah/Michael, I love you. I promise to put you before myself; to serve you and to be faithful to you as you become all that God made you to be. I promise to be your best friend, to continue to learn more about you every day, to go on adventures with you, to challenge you, and to encourage you. No matter what happens, what our circumstances are, how we feel, or where we end up; I will choose you, pursue you, and love you each and every day from now until the end of time. I love you and I give myself completely to you.

Due to concerns with the spread of COVID-19 in Licking County we are going to further delay our party until Saturday, May 1. We are sorry for any inconvenience! We really would like to celebrate with friends and family without putting anyone at risk. If you'd like to bless our marriage now, feel free to check out our registry on the tab above!