Who knew a visit to St. Tikhon's Monastery would change their lives forever?! During Janine's first year of college she went to St. Tikhons Monastery for Divine Liturgy, she had been going to her family favorite "vacation" spot her whole life. On this specific trip, she ran into a mutual friend of theirs, Paul, who walked Janine to her car following coffee hour. The two caught up and as she was about to leave a little blue Rav4 swooped into the bookstore parking lot, it was J.J. Paul quickly introduced the two stating "this is J.J. he's a really great guy." Politely Janine departed the conversation and went back to school in NY. That evening J.J. found Janine on Facebook and with encouragement from their mutual friends message the "cute Orthodox girl he saw in the parking lot." Janine and J.J. talked for eight hours (not even close to their 12 hour Skype record) that night, and haven't really left one another's lives since. No matter the struggles and distance, they grew to love and respect one another.

J.J. and Janine were back on the east coast for the Memorial Day Pilgrimage at St. Tikhon's. J.J. planned on proposing where they two had met 4 1/2 years prior, in the bookstore parking lot, but due to the abnormally long commencement, there was no time before the graduation banquet. With a ring burning in his pocket, J.J. started getting antsy. On their way to the graduation banquet, J.J. was in a particularly strange mood. Janine had an idea why and told him that she did not need all of the hub bub of a grand proposal and if he had something to ask, then he should. At that moment, J.J. had a look of relaxation and pulled out the ring right there in the car. The proposal was very symbolic of their relationship in that it was meant to be, but not exactly how it was envisioned. J.J. and Janine met in the bookstore parking lot, said "I love you" in the seminary building parking lot, had their first kiss is San Francisco near street parking, and J.J. proposed in a parking garage. In a way, it is very romantic...