The summer of '21 was filled with adventure and fun! We love recalling the summer when we first started dating. Even though we lived about two hours from each other, we made the most of it. We would spend weekend after weekend, meeting each other's family and friends, introducing each other to our favorite places in our hometowns, spending as much time outdoors as possible, and making music!

The SVC academic year of 2021-2022 was EJ's senior year! We have so many amazing memories of this time at college from hanging out at EJ's apartment with all of his roommates to the Wednesday night Falbo's student nights to now being the leaders of Festival of Praise to the long, late-night talks on the swinging bench outside of the Wimmer dorm to EJ making dinner for Marcy and her friends to the after night-class Sheetz runs to our weekly holy hour in the student chapel and to every moment in between. Saint Vincent College will always be a special place to us because it is not only the place that brought us together, but it is also the place that led us to many blessed friendships!

We celebrated our first year of dating, and EJ graduated in May of 2022! Even though this was a joyful season by closing one chapter and opening a new one, EJ's graduation meant that he would be starting his full-time position this summer and relocating to Elkton, MD (over four hours away from Marcy). Long distance is a daunting challenge for all relationships. Although we were no exception to that feeling, we never allowed a year of long distance to put a damper on our relationship! We made sure to have another memorable summer together!

Beginning in late August, Marcy started her final year at Saint Vincent College. Marcy was beginning to buckle down on her future career as a teacher, and EJ was falling into a rhythm of his steady 9-5 job working for W. L. Gore. With the demands of Marcy's student teaching as well as her additional classes and EJ's new job, we learned to navigate this new season of our relationship. Our late-night talks on the Wimmer swing bench turned into countless hours chatting over FaceTime, our five minute walk in between our dorms turned into four and a half hour car rides, and our after night-class Sheetz runs turned into virtual Chick-Fil-A dates (we added a photo for reference). None the less, perseverance is a common theme throughout the entirety of our relationship. Not only did we just make it over 16 months of long distance, we made this season a joyful experience and bearing much fruit.

Right before Marcy's graduation one month later, she committed to her full-time position as a second grade teacher at a Catholic, classical school, Regina Luminis Academy, in Berwyn, PA. She also got a summer job working with high school students with intellectual and developmental disabilities which allowed her to get a studio apartment in West Chester, PA a month after her graduation. EJ was able to relocated to West Chester, PA as well because of the flexibility of his job and resides in our soon-to-be home sweet home (i.e. apartment). We have loved exploring our new area and making so many wonderful friends! The months and months of long distance had finally come to an end! Every sacrifice of love is worth while because being able to spend a lifetime with our best friend will be a dream come true! We cannot wait for our forever to begin and to celebrate our marriage with all those that we love! Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we prepare for our marriage.

Mother Mary and St. Joseph, pray for us.

God bless you,

EJ and Marcy