October 28, 2022: the day that changed Michael and I's lives forever

It was Friday, October 28th in Terre Haute, Indiana, Anna was in Saint Joseph University Parish Gregorian room waiting for people to arrive to sign them in for the St. Joseph’ s University Ministry Awakening Retreat. Anna’s responsibility was to have people come to her to check in. From about 4 to 5 pm, Anna held down the check in process as she was responsible for making sure retreatants turned in their cell phones, paid for the retreat if they still needed to, and taking any forms of time keeping devices. Lo and behold, one of the people who came over to check in was a very FINE young man named Michael Hoff. Anna went through the routine of saying, "What's your name, do you have anyone you need to contact letting them know that you'll be on a retreat this weekend without your cell phone and away from contact and have you paid yet.” With Michael it was just different, he said “Michael Hoff, Nope, I already have done that.” Anna then proceed to ask “Okay have you paid yet?” Michael responded with slight confusion “No” and Anna said “Okay do you have the money to pay now?” Michael said “I've only got two twenties, do you have change?” Anna said, “Yes” and then Michael finished paying and asked if that was all, Anna said yeah questioningly and Michael started away, back to the communal group. Anna then blurted back to Michael “Oh wait, do you have a watch?” Michael again confused turned and said “Yeah but it's not a smart watch.” Anna responded “Yeah doesn't matter, I'm gonna need that too.”

From there Michael and Anna continued on the retreat normally, unknown to each other what their futures would hold. Anna was a small group leader and speaker who performed her talk and witness story and Michael finished out the retreat soaking in the experience. This retreat led each of the individuals to emotional highs and lows which led us each closer to the Lord and His plan for us to get together. As the retreat came to a close Michael rode back to campus with one of Anna’s suitemates and a close friend where they hammered him with questions and eventually a topic got brought up about their friend Anna’s talk. Anna’s friends didn't think that Michael knew who Anna was and were extremely shocked when Michael responded “Oh Anna Spillman,” when her name was mentioned. Her friends immediately thought there was some connection between the two but to quite the contrary not a word was said the rest of that weekend between them. However, unknown to Michael, during the retreat Anna’s suitemate had gone up to Anna and told her that she could set Michael and her up. Anna responded “I’m not really looking for a boyfriend right now but i don't care, just please don’t make it awkward.”

November 1st, All Saints Day and Holy Day of Obligation, Michael like usual attended Mass after classes with his roommate and shortly after the closing song concluded they left. After exiting the church Michael and his roommate were walking to Michael's car when a familiar face to Michael shouted “Matthew, I mean Michael” and it was Anna’s suitemate who Michael had rode to the retreat with. Being polite Michael stopped and turned to talk with her and tossed his roommate his keys so he could continue on his way and have his peace and avoid the awkwardness. Michael then held a short and quick conversation with Anna’s suitemate where Michael got told this. “Michael I don’t know how to do this but would you be interested in going out with my friend Anna? I just think you two should give it a try because you both come from large Catholic families and you guys would be good for each other.” Michael, feeling like he was hit by a truck paused for a bit to dodge the wishy washy war in his brain of whether he should or shouldn’t take her up on this offer finally responded “Okay.” Again after a brief pause, Anna's suitemate jumped in and said “What do you want, like her phone number, snapchat, facebook or instagram.” Michael said “ Yes, I guess I'll get her phone number and snapchat.”

Later that night Michael reached out via text and they began talking with each other. They spent about a month getting to know each other before Michael asked Anna, “Okay people are gonna start asking, what do you wanna tell people we are when they ask?” Anna responded “Hmm what do you mean?” Michael said “If people say you've been spending a lot of time together, what do you want to tell them this is?” Anna paused and responded “Oh I’m fine with boyfriend and girlfriend.” Michael again hit by a truck said “Ohh and paused but then said okay.” Anna asked “Is that okay with you?” Michael paused again and said, “Yes that sounds good but is just going to take a lot of getting used too.” From December 4th forward they were boyfriend and girlfriend dating to see if they wanted to marry each other. Throughout the next year and a half Michael and Anna continued to date each other and make new memories while growing closer together and falling deeper in love leading towards an engagement. Even though they faced several challenges they continued to grow closer to God and each other. On April 13th, 2024 Michael proposed to Anna at the main pavilion at the foot of the mural where St. Joseph’s University Ministry did a lot of major things during their awakening retreats. Anna and Michael continue to grow closer to each other and plan out their wedding and lives for the rapidly coming future. They are super excited as they continue to await their wedding date, new adventures, and new memories to come.

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