We are so blessed to celebrate with you!

Nathan was a volunteer coach in Hawaii for a family that Rachel had known since she was in sixth grade. He made such a good impression that the family reached out to Rachel, saying they met the "boy version" of her. They began texting as friends, and after just a day of getting to know one another, Nathan called and they spent over an hour on the phone. From then on, their relationship grew with daily video chats, weekly Sunday services shared over the internet, and plans to be together in person. Covid-19 travel restrictions delayed the initial meet-up, but Rachel finally made her way to Hawaii from California and spent a week with Nathan in paradise. Although a long-distance relationship had its challenges, Rachel and Nathan are elated to have built a strong cornerstone for their future and celebrate all the wonderful memories they created in the most unlikely year for love.

Nathan would tell you he knew Rachel was "the one" from the first time they talked. So when he was able to be with his family in Florida for Thanksgiving, he made it a point to make a very special trip with his father to the ring store. With THE ring in his luggage, Nathan flew from Florida to visit Rachel and meet her family for the first time in California over the course of three days. In that time, Nathan couldn't find an opportunity to pop the big question. By the grace of God, they realized he actually had an extra day before he had to return to Hawaii, so Nathan secretly asked Rachel's parents for their blessing to ask her to marry him before he would leave. Brad and Terrie gave their blessing, and Nathan spent that night planning to ask that next morning.... On his official last day in California, Nathan took Rachel to go watch the sunrise at Point Dume in Malibu. They hiked to the lookout spot, a beautiful, peaceful morning where the sun was just beginning to rise but the full moon was still setting. He sneakily set up their Go-Pro, while Rachel was making jokes about bringing "the one true ring" to destroy at Mount Doom (Lord of the Rings reference). After realizing Rachel still had no idea he had actually brought a ring (WHOOF!), Nathan brought Rachel in front of him, promised a lifetime of love and leading one another always to the Lord, and got down on one knee and asked her a simple question. Rachel answered "yes" to his wonderful proposal of marriage, and the two continued to enjoy the surreal morning as a newly engaged couple.