The living room in the Ash house was stuffy and full of chatty people. Anna stood with her friend in a corner, observing the room when she spotted Matthew. “He is cute. Who is that guy?” She asked her friend in Russian, her gaze fixed on Matthew as he chatted around with church friends. “That’s the Bollinger kid,” her friend replied. The Bollinger kid. Still unsure of her English skills, Anna could do nothing but stare like a child, mesmerized by a stranger in the living room. Their laughter bounced off the walls that day, foreshadowing something that would come to life years later.

Several years went by before Anna saw Matthew again. When the Ash parents went to Ukraine to adopt Anna’s future sister, Anna got to stay with the Bollingers. On their way to feed the horses, Anna looked at Matthew only to recognize the handsome face she saw in the living room several years prior.

The summer of 2017 in Arizona was blistering. Anna’s English improved at last and words began making sense to her. Teaching little kids about Jesus’s unconditional love and helping those who needed refuge from the harsh reality while working alongside Matthew, that summer, Anna began learning more about friendship, and unironically love. Later that summer, going from the smothering heat of Arizona to the windy summer nights in Idaho Anna and her sister arrived at a horse camp. Suffocating from the heat in the creaky bunk beds, Anna confided in her little sister about her feeling for Matthew. Completely unaware of Matthew, Anna’s little sister suggested to Anna to admit her feelings for the strange man. Minutes later a snapchat message lit up Anna’s phone screen. “It’s from him,” Anna whispered. “Open it, what’s the problem?” said her little sister giddily. Minutes went by, or maybe hours, or maybe days before Anna opened up the message. What she found on her phone screen was an ambiguous answer from Matthew that led Anna nowhere. That night felt worse than bruised ribs she got from a bull weeks later.

The milky waves of the St. George Island in Florida kissed Anna’s feet in the summer of 2018. Walking next to Matthew along the shore in the early rays of the morning, Anna felt Matthew’s arms wrap around her. “What is happening?” Anna looked at Matthew's questions all over her face. “Get used to these,” said Matthew smiling, “You will get a lot of these.” The morning Anna found herself wrapped in Matthew’s arms the sand felt silky and the ocean looked like a puddle.

Georgia’s sky was wide open and raindrops fell fast to their deaths when Anna came downstairs, hands shaking, thoughts swimming. Their first date Anna and Matthew spent in Matthew’s Audi listening to the pattering of rain, eating ice cream, and enjoying each other’s company. One date turned into ten, ten dates turned into five years. Five years of their relationship housed tears and laughter, late FaceTime calls and many horse shows. Journeying through the grueling trails with their backpacks rubbing against their aching hips and their hands gripping sharp stones, Anna and Matthew sat in each other’s arms on top of countless overlooks, looking out on the future they slowly built together.

Another hike, another grueling trail greeted Anna and her entourage on a breezy afternoon in the Colorado mountains. From one overlook to another Anna’s legs ached and all she wanted was to return into the comfort of the house. The second overlook laid open in front of Anna and Matthew. A photo here, a photo there, Anna stood looking at the trees and the vast expanse of Colorado when Matt’s voice asked her to turn around. “Will you spend the rest of your life with me?” And the rest, gentle reader is history…