Where to begin? One unassuming fall evening while in my Cleveland studio apartment, I got a message from a close friend in Washington DC. He asked whether I was interested in meeting someone. He told me about a sweet girl who serves at the STSA church connection table on Sunday mornings. Little did I know that this unexpected text would be the start of something new. Our first interactions over text were formal and slightly awkward but we quickly progressed to candid phone calls then to deep conversations about life and purpose. Calls became more frequent and as our friendship and attraction grew, we finally met in-person in November 2021 in DC. Our laid-back personalities and jumbled lifestyles seemed to align and it was so natural to be around each other. More than that, we shared a love for God and encouraged each other in our walk with Christ. We looked for any opportunity to visit each other, navigating through our busy work and social calendars. After only a few months, it was clear to me that Monica was the one for me. Her bright smile and loving spirit were infectious and I looked forward to every moment with her. On January 7th, 2023, we got engaged! Now as we get to the next step, we are so excited to have you join us.