Our story begins in high school, when Bethany started as a freshman at Holy Spirit Academy, and Alex was a sophomore. We met through our mutual friend Mary Northenscold, and the three of us became good friends. We grew so much in three years, in our academics, spiritually, and in our friendship. Our relationship was founded in a genuine delight in the unique soul of the other person. During Alex’s senior year he asked Bethany to go out with him, thus beginning their courtship. The next year Alex began his studies in Computer Science at the University of Mary in Bismarck, ND, and the relationship continued into a long-distance phase. This lasted for about 2 years over Bethany’s freshman year at Thomas Aquinas College (New England campus), until December 25th, Christmas Day, 2020, when Alex proposed in the gardens behind our old beloved high school. We knew the road ahead with school, work, and growing up together would bring with it many trials and sufferings, but in pursuit of the God's will, we were prepared to surrender it all to him, to trust Him, knowing that He would give us the grace to accomplish whatever He called us to. And indeed, there have been many difficulties, but God has blessed us abundantly and guided us the whole way, even when we didn’t realize it. He has filled us with a vibrant joy in anticipation of the holy Sacrament He has called us to.

(Alternatively, our story begins when Bethany and Alex were babies and Bethany came to the Mueller's house with her mom and hung out with Alex. Bethany's mom had nannied Alex's older siblings before Alex was born. But anyways, the rest of the story is the same)