Ben and Mara first met in August of 2022 at University Lutheran Church, on the outer edge of the campus of Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. It was Ben’s freshman year and Mara’s sophomore year. During the First Semester, the two would see each other on Sundays for church service, and Wednesdays for student fellowship nights. In October, they got to know each other better, and, in late-November, Ben asked Mara to go on a date. Unfortunately for him, she said no, and the semester finished a week later. However, this is not where the story ends. Over the course of the winter months during Spring Semester, Ben and Mara would talk after Wednesday fellowship long into the night, sometimes calling it quits at four o’clock in the morning. Eventually March arrived, and this time, Mara asked if Ben would be willing to go on a date. He said yes, and the two began their relationship. Their first date was on March 20th, 2023, at a mac and cheese shop at FSU. From there, Ben and Mara continued to see each other most days until the summer, when Ben returned home to his family near Tampa, while Mara stayed in Tallahassee. They would see each other a few times over the summer, but most communication occurred over the phone. When school started again they saw their relationship bloom as their love for each other grew. The two saw each other many times every week, continued to go on dates, and visited each other’s families. When fall of 2024 arrived, Ben purchased an engagement ring that he had been saving for. On October 20th, 2024, Ben proposed to Mara while on a mission trip with the church in Valdosta, Georgia. A few weeks later, the two graduated from FSU together. A half year later, and the two moved to Kentucky for Ben to go to the University of Kentucky Law School. Now the happy couple is looking forward to getting married this July and hope you can be there!