We're Getting Married!!

After a few weeks of texting, we had a date! Bridge Park is a pretty special spot because it's where Wesley and I had our first date! Before our date, Wesley told me he was wearing a white shirt so I could find him more easily. This was helpful because I saw a man walking away from me two blocks down the road that looked just like Wesley, but I knew it couldn't be Wesley because this person was far away and wearing a blue shirt. So I kept looking around me, trying to find a white shirt in the distance. Then that blue shirt turned around and started walking toward me. In this moment the world cleared before me and I realized two crucial things: 1) This was a man walking toward me. 2) Wesley was -the man- It turned out, Wesley was not wearing a white shirt. He was wearing a blue and white patterned shirt that looked more blue than not. The mismatch in attire, however, did nothing to diminish, but only added to, his inherent sweetness, kindness, and wonderfulness. Doors were opened, chairs were pulled out, patience, and prayer were a part of the day too. We played Rock, Paper, Scissors to pick where to eat. We had tacos and finished our meal with a taco-eating contest to not leave any behind. We walked across the bridge, got ice cream, walked back over the bridge, sneaked into a hotel lobby, and looked through the drawers for a key to the elevator to the roof but couldn't find it. We did, however, find a way into a locked snack room through cracked doors to make espressos that didn't taste very good, stopped by Pins to play Jumbo Jenga, then headed back to our cars. The date was a perfect mix of fun, cute, exciting, and lots of walking and talking. Hanna knew within 5 minutes that she wanted a second date. Who knew that the 4 hours we spent together would lead up to the moment we have here today? Hanna would soon realize, she had met -her man-

The weather was beautiful. It was a random warm weekend after cold weather. God really answered some prayers for nice weather for an outdoor proposal. Hanna didn't expect the proposal! She knew it was coming, but thought it would be at least a few more months. She was anticipating a regular Sunday going to church and having lunch with our friends afterward! That Sunday was a bit different as the sermon was going long and it was also a baptism service. Which was all wonderful, but Wesley had his eye on the clock as he had a surprise waiting, and we were already 20 minutes over. Our group usually takes a while to decide where to eat lunch after the service. But today, our friends Jon and Gideon made a snap decision just as the service ended, saying "North Market? North Market! Go Go Go!" as they pushed us out of the aisle. Their decisiveness this day was noted. We typically park our cars at Goodale Park and walk over to the North Market together. But, after about 5 minutes, none of our friends arrived so we started to head toward where the food was on our own. We were walking through the park and Hanna noticed a cameraman. She asked, "what's he filming? The buildings? The trees? That guy dancing over there?" Little did she know it was to capture our engagement. Wesley stopped walking, and Hanna turned around, confused. Wesley said, "I love you." Then he got down on one knee and asked, "Will you marry me?" Hanna's reaction: "Really? Are you sure? Right now? Whaaaaaaat!!" She said: YES! It was just the two of us (and our photographer). Hanna laughed, Hanna cried, and we were both excited to the start of the rest of our lives together.

Thank you to our friends and family for supporting us as we built our relationship. As we are in our engagement season, we ask that you keep us in your prayers: - Personal growth in our individual relationships with God, and as we join together. - Guidance and wisdom as we navigate our lives and engage in challenging conversations. - That our marriage will bear lots of fruit.

Hanna is graduating with her master's degree as a Speech-Language Pathologist at Ohio State this August (2023). She will work in a year-long clinical fellowship as an SLP before continuing her career as an independent provider. Wesley is halfway through medical school at Ohio State and will embark on his third year and clinical rotations this May (2023). As newlyweds in September, we'll move into an apartment and start a home together! So far we know we'll stay in Columbus until Wesley graduates in April of 2025. At that point, we'll move to where Wesley begins his residency program and Hanna will continue to thrive in her role as an SLP. We are so excited to start this new chapter of our lives and to see where God leads us!