Join us in celebration! Saturday, December 8th at 5pm. Paradise Falls in Oceanside, Ca. Take a look around! Below we have our own perspectives on how things came to be. And up top you can navigate through the tabs for all other need-to-know info! See you in December, friends!

When Shawna and I first met. It was a Jr. High night at Mapleview over 9 years ago. The moment we first talked, it was like we were instant best friends. We spent so much time together, whether it be at a park, or the top of a parking garage doing bible studies, worshiping or just hanging out. I knew she was going to be a huge part of my life. Fast forward a bit where I had joined the military. She made it a point to stay in contact. And whenever I came into town to visit, we always hung out. The first time I was able to make it back into town we saw a movie on base. And this is where my "Flutter" began. She rested her head on my shoulder. And I did nothing... First mistake? No, Gods timing had other things for us. Over the years as our friendship grew and grew. The moment she dropped EVERYTHING to be with my the moment my dad passed is when i knew I had fallen in love with her, but never told her how I was feeling. Then one visit I thought I would take a chance when I was in town. We were supposed to hang out one night, but she had called it off because she wasn't feeling well. And I acted like it was fine. But I had driven to Panera Bread and bought all of their soups, picked up some red box movies and drove to her place. She was shocked that I had come over. I had said "I'll sit over here, we can watch a movie, and when your tired of me, you can kick me out." After I left her roommate at the time told her that friends don't just do that. And she was like "what? he is just a really good friend." OBLIVIOUS! And over the years, one of my continuous prayers was asking God to help me find and amazingly Godly woman like Shawna to marry. This was not his plan. I wanted to plan a trip to Europe. I had asked her if she wanted to go. She said yes. About a month before we left. She told me she was starting to have feelings for me. THIS WAS IT BOYS! So we started dating/Engaged/Married. Moral of the story is, it is possible to get out of the friend zone #WhatfriendZone?

Coming home from Summer Staff at Hume Lake Christian Camps I had a few things on my mind: college courses start in one day & that Youth Group my old friend (who I bumped into this summer) is in two days! So there I was, on Tuesday night..three hours early. The first two years in the ministry a tight group was formed (Jacob amidst that company). We met daily - to challenge and encourage one another...and watch Phantom of the Opera & Flight of the Concord episodes. We had our own "Church" on occasion. Singing worship and sharing devotionals. Vocations changed for many in the group and they moved away. I remained in San Diego, eagerly awaiting any chance for one of those to visit. If I may, emphasize the EAGERLY in that last line. Years go by, so many text and video messages led to FaceTime. Oh, the glorious iPhone and its capability to make friendships endure. In early 2017 Jacob had a last minute thought of how he could see me for some additional time: his brothers wedding. And LET ME TELL YOU, I was feeling conflicted all evening. ESPECIALLY during the slow dance to Whitney Houston - with Jacob singing the song softly in my ear. Months later and I was dumped and in a million pieces. Jacob swoops in and starts messaging me more. Checking in on me to see if I am okay. Then just checking in on the daily. Months go by and he says "lets go on vacation! Traveling alone stinks!" Where to, I asked. "A ROAD TRIP!" No. Not a road trip. "How about IRELAND?" Um, OKAY. Let me plan and budget and make a spreadsheet! May 2017-February 2018: Daily Facetime for hours to talk, plan and share life with one another. February 20th: A FLUTTER IS FELT. What did I do? What DO I DO!? keep it to yourself. shut it away. respect your friend. Two weeks later: TELLS JACOB EVERYTHING. I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE. A decision is made: wait until we see each other in person (before our flight to IRELAND) to make things official. Jacob was in the friend-zone for over nine years...my bad!

Fall 2015: Jacob was flying into town and we had planned months in advance on going out to dinner - the usual for us. Not-so-usual: Shawna calling in sick the morning-of and texting Jacob to cancel. J: "Don't worry; we will see each other another time. It is totally okay!" Shawna crawled back into bed. Hours later: the doorbell rings. It's Jacob! J: "I brought Panera (every soup they had on the menu) and Redbox (six. SIX REDBOXES). Just wanted to keep you company. I'll sit over here and you can kick me out anytime!" Hours of just sitting with each other with soup in hand - sitting (Shawna slumped, more like it) about on our own separate seats - across the room from one another - watching movies. Shawna to her girlfriends: "WHAT A NICE FRIEND!" 2018 Shawna will forever be kicking herself for being so obviously oblivious.