“We love because He first loved us” 1 John 4:19

From the Groom’s mind When we were very young our parents were very close and so our families fellowshipped a lot. This is where we first met. After a few years, our parents moved around, and we didn’t see each other for some time. In 2016, we saw each other again for a little bit at a family camp then once again went on different journeys for a while. When we walked on these journeys, God was preparing us for one another. We saw each other again after a while at camps, online studies, and other events and built a friendship. Abby and my sister Leah had always been friends, and I watched their friendship grow over the years. They would have a lot of bible studies online, and during that time, I had the privilege of watching Abby grow into the amazing woman of God that she is. I was becoming more and more intrigued as time went on, and then Virginia ladies advance In 2021 happened. Abby and her family came down for the weekend and Abby, my siblings, and I went afterwards for ice cream and we had an incredible conversation about prayer and our goals in life. It was then I realized that I felt something more for her than friendship, but God was still getting us ready for each other, and so there was a little more waiting and praying. Then Lancaster camp of 2022 arrived, and we finally were able to share that we saw one another as more than friends. We talked all weekend about scripture, our lives, and what we liked. I got her number there. We talked every day for a month, learning more and more and then just before Lima rally (a family camp), I talked to Abby’s parents and got their blessing to court her. I then asked her, and she said her first yes. We had a long distance courtship for a while. I’d visit her a lot, and she would visit me a lot too. Every visit would be filled with wonderful memories, our bond being strengthened, and our love for the Lord growing each day. After praying for a while I realized that I needed to move to Ohio, and so I decided to begin the journey of leaving and cleaving and I moved to Ohio, and it was worth it. While I was moving, I prayed and thought about everything that we had been through, and how much I had grown since Abby had been brought into my life and how much I love her and I went and bought a ring. I knew that I would have to wait a while before she would see it, but I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that she is the one. After I moved We grew closer and we grew in our love for each other and God. A month later I asked for the blessing to propose from her parents and they gave it to me. I planned our proposal, and we went to a hiking trail and I proposed, and Abby said yes! And now we are planning our wedding and preparing for the rest of our lives, and I cannot wait to see what the Lord does with us. I'm so excited to spend the rest of my life with her by my side as we serve the Lord together!

Joel and I have known each other through our families being close for many years. Though there was a period of separation, it didn’t take too long when being reunited to start getting to know each other. After I became a Christian I had much to learn, grow, navigate, and overcome through Christ. I had always known it was God’s desire for me to be a wife one day, but it took some time and tons of prayer and preparation. It also took going through a rough spot, and overcoming that challenge by really grabbing hold of the truth. In 2021 I was reunited with a good friend Leah, who is also Joel’s sister. We had many laughs, Bible studies, and just great times overall. Talking with her I did get to learn more about Joel and the kind of man he was. There were also a few family camps, Bible studies and other events where we would talk and got to know each other as friends. During a ladies advance my family stayed with his family. During that weekend there was a trip where we went out for some ice cream and after talking I got to see quickly that Joel was a man of character who really had his goals and priorities lined up. However, after that advance we both believe God still had some preparation for us to do for each other, yet we did not leave each other’s minds. The following year a family camp in Lancaster came up and during that event, and our families went out to dinner together. When I arrived at the restaurant, there was one seat left beside Joel so I sat down. After sitting down, it didn’t take long to realize that he was really trying to get to know me and wanted something deeper than friends. He prayed for the table (which I was impressed by). After that, we talked about our goals again, what had happened over the past year, and he shared his food with me. At the camp, the free time was mostly doesn’t talking to each other and getting to know each other more. He complimented my character, which really meant a lot to me, and I was able to open up a bit. Before the end of camp he had gotten my number. It took some more talking and getting to know each other, praying together every night and getting into the word together when about a month later, he asked me if I would like to court with him. Well, the answer was yes and after that we spent months talking again. We visited, especially him to Ohio and we went on lots of walks and talks just talking more deeply about who we are and what we believe about Jesus. We went on a road trip to a family camp together. We both shared our ideas of Christ and the Church and how passionate we were about representing that. We shared our ideas of what a Godly and good marriage would look like, and they lined up well. Eventually, Joel moved to Ohio. After about a month of him living here, we went on a hiking trail together (which is one of both of our favorite things to do) and he proposed to me. When he proposed I could hardly hold back my joyful tears as I knew a completely new life and journey was beginning in a beautiful engagement process that would lead to marriage. During this period of engagement, I’ve gotten to know Joel even better and it amazes me each day just how deep love can be with God by our side, and I know there is plenty more to go ☺️