In November 2024, Concordia St. Paul was hosting the Beautiful Feet Mission Conference. Nathan's friend and boss, Jeff, was a plenary speaker at the conference and invited Nathan and another friend to come with him to help lead a breakout session. We met before the first session on that Thursday night where Shelly made a goofy joke. Nathan was there when Shelly gave a plenary presentation on Friday night. Jeff invited Shelly to join them for appetizers and drinks at a local pizza place after, and we spent the whole time enjoying conversation together. Theology, teaching, the various beverages and adventures we enjoy, college students, international communities, and life and ministry in the city--we quickly realized we had no lack of things to connect on and laugh about. This was something unique from day one. Through some initial density and clear excitement, by the day after the conference, we exchanged numbers and have been talking every day ever since. Both of us had built meaningful lives with great friendships and ministry in our respective cities. Life was good and meaningful. Yet, as we Facetimed and flew to see each other for over a year, it only seemed right to get to the same city and live life together. Doors opened, and God moved to bring Nathan to St. Paul in February 2026. We have been enjoying starting to build a life in the Twin Cities together and are so excited to welcome you here to enjoy it and celebrate with us for our wedding. God is so very kind.

The first time Nathan came to visit Shelly in the Twin Cities in January 2025, he was shocked to find out that there were waterfalls in the area. Shelly was eager to show him all of her favorite parts of the Twin Cities and quickly took him to Minnehaha Falls. It was a place we returned to multiple times during the 15ish months we dated long-distance. Nathan was in cahoots with friends, Alyssa and Bethany, who planned a winter walk with Shelly at Minnehaha Falls on an icy Friday in January. As they shuffled across the icy park, Nathan was standing there in his parka. He had flown in early that morning, and Shelly didn't even know he was in Minnesota. With her jaw dropped, she shuffled on the icy sidewalk over to him as he said, "did you know there were waterfalls in Minnesota?" Shelly was so surprised; her hands drawn to her cheeks in disbelief. It was a special moment, with a beautiful ring and a loving question, which she obviously answered with "yes."