The Time Has Come! We're Getting Married!

As many of you know, they bonded over sarcasm and awkwardness. However, many of you do not know how they met! They knew each other for almost a year before dating. He would see Rachel around & occasionally tell her she was being too loud or to take things down a notch. He also would pretend to give her high fives but than quickly remove his hand. Shocking. Paul moved in with Caitlin and Luke Hoge in the fall of 2016. Caitlin and Rachel were talking one day and she told her about how this guy just moved into their house. She also told her she thought Rachel and Paul would hit it off! Rachel being Rachel, messaged him on Facebook, “Heeeeyyyyyy.” Flirting is not her best attribute. His response, “What do you want?” Rachel was CRUSHED. How do you recover from that? Rachel asked him if he liked pancakes and would maybe like to get them some time. They met at an Ihop in Virginia. It wasn’t the most graceful date. They both were awkward. The food was not good that night and they bonded over cold sausage links. Paul than tried to kiss her. Rachel turned her head which than caused them both to headbutt each other. It was love. From there, they watched the original Star Wars movies, listened to country music and went muddin in Paul's beloved Jeep. They’ve been cruising ever since. Love is love.

For the first eighteen months of Paul and Rachel's relationship, Rachel lived in Maryland and Paul lived in Virginia. For some, this may have presented a challenge. For them, it allowed them to develop as individuals and their hearts to grow fonder of each other. Paul lived in a wild house of mostly men and Rachel was living in Danny and Rachel Joswick’s lovely home. Every weekend, Rachel would drive down to Virginia and they would order meat lovers pizza and eat it in bed while watching a movie. Sometimes they would play Nintendo 64 and other times, Paul and his roommates would be shooting deer in the backyard with a cross bow. Occasionally, they'd see each other throughout the week but how their heart treasured those first months of waiting all week just to be in each others arms. Even it was only one or two nights a week. Eventually, Paul convinced Rachel to cross state lines and become a resident of the Common Wealth. This would be the first of countless compromises they would make for each other. Since moving to Virginia, they've rescued not one but two dogs. In this case, rescue meaning Rachel has brought them both home with little consultation from Paul. They've created a life as caring partners in a home full of love and craziness.

Many of you have heard parts of this story but maybe not the whole thing! 2018 to 2019 was a challenging time for Paul and Rachel. Paul asked Rachel to go to Ohio with him and, at the time, our only dog ,Leia. He had rented a GetaWay cabin in the middle of the woods in some small town in Ohio. They spent Thanksgiving with their families and loaded up their cars the next day. 5 hours later, they were in a small cabin with our very anxious dog pacing around. Paul and Rachel had talked about marriage and kids but it has always been something they both knew would happen but in its own time. Rachel is super trusting of almost everyone. She had no idea Paul had purchased a ring and started plotting a proposal. Friday night, Rachel heated up some of her Mom’s amazing taco soup. They then sat by the campfire under the stars with a yummy dinner. Next up, Rachel Style Smores. This means Keeblers fudge stripe cookies, chocolate, & jumbo marshmallows. Paul then looks at Rachel and says, “So you really love me right? Good, annoying, everything right? And you know I love you with all my heart.” Rachel just thought he was looking for reassurance. So she responded, “Duh, obviously. We wouldn’t have made it this far if I didn’t love you!”. He then looks at Rachel and says, “Well, I guess the only thing we have to rectify is us not being married.” Rachel was stunned, confused and clueless! Paul got down on one knee in 30 degree weather on a gravel road in the middle of nowhere Ohio & said, “Will you marry me?” Rachel immediately started scream crying in her puffy winter coat. About 45 seconds later Paul says, “Babe, my knee hurts in the gravel. Is it a yes?” Rachel immediately said yes! They decided to enjoy the engagement privately for the weekend. That Sunday, they called their families and let them know. What Rachel didn’t know was Paul had asked her dad for permission earlier that week. Over the next few weeks, they told their dearest friends and have been in bliss ever since.