we love because He first loved us

Connor: Soon after graduating from Georgia Tech, I moved to Raleigh to work at a pharmaceutical consulting company. Not long after, I was assigned to a project in Lenoir, NC, only about 30 minutes from Hickory. After settling into the area for a few months, I was determined to meet someone at church, so one Sunday I decided to introduce myself to one of the ushers after Mass. I was generously introduced to a few other couples that almost immediately asked me if I was married or discerning the priesthood but nevertheless made me feel welcomed and accepted at the parish. Caileigh: I was enjoying a fun-employed summer in between graduating nursing school and waiting for my paperwork to join the Navy to be officially approved. I spent much of that summer with my best friend Amy and our moms. Being the great Catholic moms they are, they started enthusiastically talking about this “nice Catholic young man” Amy’s mom, Fran, had met after Mass. With my mind focused on joining the Navy, I wasn’t exactly concerned with this mystery man. However, when a “nice young Catholic man about my age with a beard” opened the door for me after Mass, I knew that my mom and Franny would never forgive me if I just kept walking (plus it turned out Franny wasn't lying when she said he was cute). So I blurted out "I know this is weird, but by any chance is your name Connor?" Connor: I had absolutely no idea who this girl was or why she knew my name, but she quickly explained that she’d heard about me through “the church moms.” We planned a hike with some friends — which ended up being just the two of us. Even though neither of us expected to remain in Hickory very long, I kept finding excuses to see her. Hanging out turned into a coffee date, turned into baking Christmas cookies, and turned into something a little more than just friends. Connor and Caileigh: Right around the time to "define the relationship", Connor's company decided to move him back to Raleigh. A crestfallen coffee/tea date and exchange of Christmas gifts later, we thought that it just wasn't meant to be. Less than a month later, Connor called Caileigh, drove back to Hickory for a date and tried (successfully) to woo her back.

After Ensign C.G. Ryan was assigned to Naval Medical Center Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, NC, we spent the next year and a half navigating long-distance with FaceTime calls, day trips, and a Sunday tradition of French toast and strawberries after Mass. Still, God had clearly placed a natural affection between us and a desire to “close the gap.” Connor started job searching and suddenly an opportunity appeared at Corning in Wilmington (only an hour from Jacksonville) and a ring burning a hole in his pocket. Two weeks between jobs to pack up, move, and get settled isn't a whole lot of time, but it is enough to make a trip down on a Tuesday and pop the question. Without any real agenda or plan on Connor's end, no suspicion whatsoever on Caileigh's end, and a forecast for it to rain, they somehow ended up with Connor on one knee on a beautiful boardwalk and it didn't rain a drop all day! Connor is currently in Hampstead, NC (splitting the difference between Wilmington and Jacksonville) and we are both looking forward to preparing well for our wedding and plenty of beach days both before and after the big day!

In reflecting and summarizing 'our story' we both wanted to express how grateful we are for all who have brought us together: For our families. For our friends. And most of all, for the Lord. His grace and presence has been so apparent to us in how we met and in so many details of our relationship both big and small! And if you made it this far down, thank you for letting us share a glimpse of the beginning of our love story with you!