It all started when I got a random text from Emily (my sister-in-law) asking what service I was going to. I took this as weird because she had never asked me this question before. On the following Sunday, I chose to sit on the opposite end of the sanctuary to see what Emily was up to. I saw she was standing next to a very attractive girl I did not recognize. Immediately I was filled with butterflies. I worked up the courage to walk over to her, but once I got over to her, I was unable to get a word in as my Emily was hogging her. Finally, I was introduced to Kesslyn and our whole conversation lasted about 2 seconds. It went like this: Me- Nice to meet you, how are you enjoying the church? Kesslyn- It's great! That was it. I went on and talked to someone else and Kesslyn resumed being hogged by Emily. Even though it was such a short conversation, I was struck by her beauty and attentiveness to my Emily. After our meeting, Emily sent me Kesslyn's number. I waited a day and asked her out on a date to a restaurant called. "The Onion." We ended up laughing and talking for hours and found that we agreed on all the things we found of utmost importance in our lives. After that first date, Kesslyn left me speechless (and still does). The rest is history.

Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve prayed for my future husband and for God’s guidance in when and how we’d meet. Over the past few years, my standards only increased as I went on many first dates and intentionally made myself available for God to connect me with the right life partner. I remember being discouraged a couple years back, and asking God to keep me from being in a relationship until I met my husband. After spending 5 months traveling and completing midwifery clinicals in El Paso and Mexico, I returned home to Spokane sooner than expected. My first week back, I attended a prenatal home visit where I met Emily (Eli’s SIL who was pregnant with her son Oziah) and Vanessa (Eli’s longtime family friend). Vanessa and I started studying together over the summer, as we were attending the same midwifery school. Emily and I started attending births together, her as a doula and me as a student midwife. Summer of 2022, Vanessa & Emily teamed up to play matchmaker. They orchestrated a casual meeting at our church, and then Emily followed up with texts to both Eli and I convincing us to go on a first date. 😂 Eli asked me out ON HIS BIRTHDAY… I knew I had to make it an enjoyable evening, even if I wasn’t interested for the sake of not ruining his bday. 😅 I arrived at the Onion (late 🙈) and we talked the night away. I knew something was different about him from our very first date, and I remember being so amazed that we couldn’t find a single issue that we disagreed on. We talked about so many of our values, beliefs, interests, and aspirations that first night, and they all aligned! Eli is the kindest, most genuine, compassionate, and strongest man I know. He has shown me God’s love in the most powerful way throughout our dating relationship as he has tenderly and intentionally pursued me and loved me like Jesus does. 🥹 There’s never been a day since we’ve met that I’ve questioned his heart or his intentions. He sees the best in everyone and I’m just so so proud to call him my FIANCÉ!!! 💍 I literally cannot imagine spending the rest of my life without him in it, and I’m just so beyond excited to see how the Lord continues to lead us in our life together and to build a home with this man!! ❤️ Also his proposal was the perfect evening!! Eli did so so great!!! 🙌 We went for a hike on Mount Spokane and found a picnic in the trees with photos and poems strung along the pathway and my man on one knee 🤩 He proposed where we first said “I love you.”