I'd like to tell you all about how I met this wonderful girl named Christy. I had just moved to Iowa in October of 2023 to be closer to some very good friends of mine that I only saw about twice a year prior to to moving. I enjoyed being closer to my friends and finding a job that gave me good coworkers and I felt was fulfilling at the end of the day. 5 months later I was still enjoying my time here in Iowa and feeling very settled and happy.

I had struggled in the past with feelings of loneliness and asked God when I was going to be able to share my love with someone and when I would be deserving of someone else's love. This thought had bounced around my head for a few years and I wondered when was going to be the right time. I prayed one night that I would come to understand what God's plan was for me and that there was a reason that everything was happening how it was and it was all a part of His plan. I came to a peaceful understanding that I was ok being by myself and I didn’t need to question God's authority on why I wasn't getting what I wanted.

Not but a week later I received a message from a girl named Christy on a dating app, coincidentally on February 14th, Valentine's Day. It took us a few days to get something planned out since our schedules were crazy at the time but eventually, we planned to go and have dinner and get to know each other. After finally meeting and spending our night together having a few drinks (followed by me nervously spilling one) and playing games at an arcade, we sat and talked about our lives, beliefs, and jobs. It was a good conversation. She was as easy to get to know as she was kind, warm, and welcoming, as well as God-fearing, most importantly.

I remember while she was talking thinking about how smart she was and how good of a plan she had for her life. She was impressive. At the end of the night, we said goodbye and we agreed to have breakfast before I had to go to work a few days later. We continued to see each other and each time was better than the last getting to know this wonderful human being.

One night I was out with friends having dinner and I was talking about this girl named Christy that I had met and I had a really good feeling about her. We weren't quite dating yet but I suppose I had made up my mind about what I wanted and patiently waited for her to seem interested in that as well. I could wait, I wasn’t worried. As my friends and I talked excitedly about her, my friend Kaine asked to see a picture of her. I had a picture on my phone of her from her dating profile. My friend Sam looked at the phone and said: "THAT'S ONE OF SOPH'S (his wife) FRIENDS". I replied with "Oh no" because now I definitely didn't want to mess this up since we both had a close relationship with these friends in common. Oddly enough Christy sang at Sam and Sophia's wedding and I unfortunately missed the wedding for work. And months prior to our meeting, I had attended Sam and Sophia's housewarming party in their new home and Christy was unable to attend. So there was an opportunity twice to meet her, but we just didn't seem to cross paths yet. I don't think I told her for a week that we had friends in common because I was nervous after finding that out. I eventually got over being nervous and it has become something funny that we look back at.

Christy and I continued to see each other and date. It has been an absolute joy to be with her and get to know her. Through road trips, weddings, meeting each other's families, and buying a house I knew very quickly that this was the girl I wanted to spend my life with and I wanted to be a part of her family as well as her a part of mine.

The proposal:

I had planned a trip with her to visit my parents in Oregon and was going to propose to her on the beach. Unfortunately, we canceled the trip a day prior due to us both being sick. I was impatient and wanted to be engaged to her. With both of us feeling run down, I waited for Christy to get back to the house, I walked up to her, went down on one knee, and asked her to be my wife. As much as I wanted to wait and give her and myself a memorable proposal, I was more overwhelmed with the feeling of wanting to be with her and wanting to propose. Since you're reading this right now I'm sure you've come to the conclusion that she said yes!

Ben and Christy both have sentimental value in their wedding rings. Ben's is his late grandfather's, and Christy's stones of her wedding band are from her late grandmother's wedding ring. They both value the examples of love they have had in their lives and are grateful for the many examples they base their love for each other on each day.