Jacob and Skylar met in January of 2017. At the time, Skylar's roommates had just started hosting their church's young adult Bible Study in their little basement apartment. Skylar still vividly remembers Jacob's first time at Bible Study. Briefly, he introduced himself to the group as a military kid whose dad served in the U.S. Army. The Kerwoods were stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord for the second time. Jacob's childhood story of moving every few years was well known to Skylar, whose dad served in the U.S. Air Force, at the time in Oklahoma City. She didn't have the guts to talk to Jacob that first night, but she did tuck his familiar story away in her heart and hoped for a chance to talk to him another time. Jacob, on the other hand, didn't spot Skylar across the circle until his third or fourth week at Bible Study. (Finally!) Their first actual conversation consisted of sharing back and forth which states they had grown up in, and coming to the discovery that their dads were both colonels in their respective branches. They discovered other similarities, and over the next several months they enjoyed talking to eachother, however, they were both incredibly shy. It took Jacob until May to decide that, yes, he would ask for her phone number, but he didn’t have a chance (or Skylar didn’t give him a chance) to ask for it until July. That was a good thing, since it took Skylar that entire summer to decide that, yes, if he should ask for her phone number, she would give it to him. Thankfully, God is expert in his timing.

Jacob asked Skylar to marry him on December 22, 2018. He proposed in the beautiful town of Leavenworth, WA, which has made a name for itself as a picturesque, German village nestled into the mountains between Eastern and Western Washington. At Christmas time, the shops all decorate elaborately with lights of all different colors, and the snow falls, and it truly feels like a winter wonderland. However, this landmark town attracts crowds of tourists at this time of year, and so as they waded through the sea of people, Jacob worried there might not be room to get down on one knee! Persistently, Jacob led the way to the river on the outskirt of the town, away from all the people. Along the river there, underneath a street lamp, he popped the best question ever... she said yes... snow was falling... it was perfect. It was too dark to see the ring really, plus Skylar was teary (emotionally gifted, per usual), so it was a good few minutes of hugs, kisses, and excited talking/crying until Jacob suddenly asked, "Oh, do you want to see it?!" and pulled out his phone flashlight. No doubt about it, he did a wonderful job of choosing!

Really the best part of the proposal story though, was its conclusion. Without pause, the snow had continued to fall from about the time Jacob proposed, until they headed out towards home a couple hours later. Jacob's parents have a home in the mountains not far from Leavenworth, so the couple stopped there to share the exciting news and story. By the time they finished telling and talking, the roads were at a state to require chains on all vehicles... Under normal circumstances, the two would have hunkered down at the house till morning, but Skylar had a plane to catch at 11 am the next day to get home to spend Christmas with her family in Oklahoma City (Tinker AFB). Jacob made the call, and decided to try driving over the pass that night. Jacob's parents were amazing, teaching the two how to put on chains for the first time, and sending them towards home with cookies, coffee, and prayers. Ultimately, the drive was successful... Jacob is amazingly calm, cool, and collected under pressure, for which Skylar is so thankful. Furthermore, never has an engagement ring been so well broken in as has theirs!