Some of you may know that Vanessa and I went to high school together. I even remember the first time I saw her, she was wearing a blue top, Jean skirt, hair in a ponytail and she had two yogurts. I remember thinking when I saw her “I wonder if she’d share a yogurt,” I was too scared to ask her though. I knew I liked her the first moment I saw her and I was in love the first moment we spoke. Over the next couple of years I would try to sit near her in class and talk. I was never brazen enough to ask to hangout. After high school I moved out west to see what the world had to offer. It wasn’t six months before I had to talk to her again but it became clear we were on different paths. Months went by, but I could not shake what I felt. I wanted to go to school so after applying to a couple universities I chose to apply to the one she attended. I applied on a Tuesday and on a Thursday I was accepted. My choice was made. I spent my first year wishing and wondering but this young man was scared of a woman like her. Finally I got brave and asked to hangout. After we met again I felt like I was back in that classroom staring at her (and her yogurt). I never asked her out, I told her she was now my girlfriend. I knew she would say no if I asked her out and frankly I was too scared to ask. 5 years later I asked her to marry me. I talked with friends, I talked with family and most importantly I talked with God. I never stopped being scared. I just trusted in my relationships that gave me their blessings. There is no one I’d rather spend my life with. Our wedding and honeymoon will have to look a little different this year but we hope everyone enjoys this new chapter with us.

I don’t know what my first memory of Matt is. In high school he was the kid that brought my brother home all beat up (they trained MMA). I do remember him attempting to strike up a conversation a few times, but back then I was rather clueless and thought that he was just being polite. At the end of our grade 12 year, I finally realized that he was trying to get to know me and we spent a short time together before he moved out west. When he moved, I figured he would find himself a big city gal, and it would be foolish to attempt to keep in touch. During Christmas break of 2012, he sent me a message. Why was he messaging me? What about the big city gals? We picked up right where we left off. We talked for hours, about everything. In April of 2013, I felt God calling me to get more serious about my faith. So, as painful as it was, I told Matt that we shouldn’t talk anymore. The following months were miserable, I knew I was doing what was right, but it was awful. When he showed up at STU that September, I couldn’t believe it. We saw each other around, but never really spoke. In April of 2014, he sent me a message. It was an innocent message about school. I remember sitting in my Aunt and Uncle’s basement, staring at the message, my stomach in knots. I told God that unless he sent me some sort of sign, I was going to respond. I waited 5 minutes...no lightning bolt, no booming voice, no wet sheepskin...so I responded. The first months of our “friendship” as my parent’s called it, were both amazing and confusing. We had so much in common, but came from such different worlds. I remember the first time Matt asked if he could come to my church, I said no. Having been to countless Youth events, I was convinced that he was trying to trick me into something. Well, it’s been 6 years and if he is indeed trying to trick me into something, he is about to pull it off. I am so blessed to be marrying my best friend, and I hope that you will join us for our celebration.