If you’re here, you know we were set up on a blind date by a mutual friend (shout out to Evan!). It was during COVID, so a walk around Greenlake it was. It wasn’t love at first sight, but after a few dates we knew we had something special. After an absolutely wonderful first year and a half of dating, you all know we got engaged in May 2023! While we had a lot of love for each other, Morgan was battling a lot of fear and anxiety. Despite fighting it, and lots of counseling and therapy it became clear that because of these unresolved issues from her past they were preventing her from starting a marriage whole-heartedly. It was the hardest decision we had to make to call off the wedding in 2023. Highly do not recommend. But we didn’t want to start a marriage that way and knew that if we were meant to get married, God would make it happen at the right time. Those days and following months were incredibly dark and hard, but defining. We now call it the Deep Dark. It is only through the support and grace of so many dear people around us and the grace of God that we were able to get through it. We wish we could name you all - and really if you’re reading this, you most likely played a part, but Scott Nicholson, Pat Hulbert, and Jody and Larry Byrne were instrumental in walking us through the different stages of the last nearly two years. During this season of intensive healing, we have experienced the love of God in ways we never have before. We have learned how real and present God is, how He delights in his children no matter how broken, and what it mean to live life holistically - mind, body, and soul. For Morgan, this time was especially impactful as she underwent a type of “heart surgery”. Although she didn’t know it at the time, it had been like her heart was plastic-wrapped and no light or love could get in or out. Slowly, over time with the help of her therapist and Daniel’s tender loving care the pieces started to unravel and she was able to experience for the first time God’s love and Daniel’s love (even though it had been there all along). For Daniel, he really learned what it meant to walk through the trenches alongside someone, to lean on and trust God despite all unknowns, and how difficult but ultimately freeing it is to open his hands to God regarding future plans. It wasn’t the journey we asked for, and when we started, we really didn’t know where the road would lead. Even before unresolved trauma in Morgan’s life put a halt to our plans, we had reminded each other that God would do “far more abundantly than all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20) with our lives. It sure as heck didn’t feel like like it when we called off the wedding, when we separated during the Deep Dark, when we broke up (for a hot second), and the many hard conversations, painful moments, and tearful nights. But we knew regardless of where we ended up that God would do “far more abundantly”. And He did. Where we are today is SOOOO different than where we were two years ago and we’re thankful to be starting a life together in a much healthier space! We’re also so grateful for all of you to have walked through this season of life with us. So when you attend our wedding we hope you’ll join us in celebrating that healing is possible, that love is transformative, that freedom is tangible, and that life is a journey. We don’t have it all together just because we “worked on ourselves” the last two years. We just get to do that together now as husband and wife. Bring your dancing shoes ‘cause it’s time to celebrate!!!!!!!!!!!