Paul and I have a beautiful, insane, and magical story about how we met… it is called Bumble (a dating app). Some may say, well that’s not insane or magical, and I’d say well you’re right.. But wait to hear the story afterward.

The first message Paul sent me was three date ideas. He really just jumped into it. I would’ve been creeped out if his profile didn’t perfectly align with mine.. and he was quite handsome (which is a plus). Also, as I’ve come to know, when he wants something, he just goes for it.

A couple days later, we met at a coffee shop and I immediately called my best friend, Kathryn (my wonderful maid of honor), and said “I am going to marry this man”. She definitely thought I was crazy… but look where we are at now Kathryn!! Afterward, Paul was late for a meeting (sorry Mr. Powers) and we hung out straight for a week. We both realized we have a love for slow dancing in the kitchen, going on fun adventures, trusting Jesus more than anyone else, and our values were nothing short but pretty perfectly aligned. Plus, we crack each other up… which is always a good thing until you can’t breathe from laughing so hard.

We met in April and in September Paul proposed to me at Glacier National Park. It was a gorgeous week full of hiking, running in small town shops, and playing board games till late. It WAS magical and will always be remembered. Especially us not making it to our campsite, seeing bear scat, and sleeping on a ridge… which was terrifying (Dad, sorry I never told you this).

All in all, fast forward to getting married soon. Paul is a man of such character. He is intelligent, hilarious, has a selfless heart, and loves the Lord above all else. After praying continuously (God knows) for years for a man of such dignity, Jesus put him in my life at the perfect time. I am blessed beyond belief to marry this wonderful man. I am so in love with him and can’t wait to slow dance in the kitchen and praise the Lord for the rest of our lives together.

We met in the most modern way possible—Caroline made the first move, and I happily pretended it was my idea. A few messages, one unforgettable first date, and a series of highly classified inside jokes later, we knew we had something special. Funny enough, we still owe it all to one little bee.


I had a plan: a quick coffee date, followed by a conveniently scheduled meeting, just in case I needed an escape. Then Caroline walked in, and suddenly, every backup plan vanished. She was radiant, confident, and effortlessly took over the room. But what really got me? Her heart for the Lord and her ability to make meaningful connections with everyone around her. One coffee turned into hours, and by the end, I rushed to my car for my meeting. While I have zero recollection of what it was about, I fully recollect that I needed to see her again.


Two days later, we went on a walk through her neighborhood, talking about everything: faith, ambition, even our oddly similar taste in architecture. That night, she invited me to game night with her friends. Turns out, they weren’t just playing games; they were evaluating me. She wasn’t looking for a plus-one but a teammate. Challenge accepted.


By date three, I was done for. I showed up at her place with flowers, endured another round of competitive interrogation from her friends, and then stayed up until 3 AM talking about life. She told me her dream of raising a big family, and I knew right then: this woman wasn’t just someone I wanted to be with—she was someone I wanted to build a life with.


Within a month, we were official. Our faith became the foundation of everything. We worshipped together, prayed through big decisions, and somehow balanced her promotion, my MBA pursuit, and a commitment to never stop dating each other. She challenged me, inspired me, and made it clear that she wasn’t just my partner. she was my future.


On September 28th, I proposed. I planned a grand mountaintop moment in Glacier National Park, complete with a photographer in disguise. Caroline, highly suspicious, showed up looking stunning, fully expecting a proposal. So, I threw on a hoodie to throw her off. By the time we reached the top, she had completely ruled it out. That’s when I dropped to one knee. The moment froze until I had to ask twice because she was so surprised. Then, she jumped into my arms, said yes, and the rest is history.


Since then, life has been fast, fun, and full of growth. Caroline has refined me, pushed me, and made me the man I want to be. She’s my best friend, my greatest adventure, and hands down the best decision I’ve ever made.


Let’s get married.