It was a warm summer day on June 6th, 2002, when I was born into a fog. And it was a gloomy 9 years before that fog was lifted and I invited Jesus into my heart. Best day ever. But it was a mediocre 19 years 7 months and 29 days before there was no more mediocrity. Just before February 4th, 2022, a lovely specimen of the human race was using a common socialization spot for studying, the Library. This place would become the battle grounds of my affection as I fought for her attention against the likes of Chemistry 1307 and company. After we had texted, for multiple months, and she had been asked, multiple times, to go on a date, she eventually agreed. And then, after she was asked, multiple times, to be my girlfriend, I was officially dating Ella Booe and life became the best of times. From then on we laughed together, we cried together, we had some of the most awkward experiences together, Spain happened-- not together, I stayed here, that was sad. Then Ella came home from Spain! That was happy! It was time to plan a proposal and approximately 9 months later I was able to ask, thankfully once, Ella Booe, will you marry me? And now we are here getting married. So yay!

Jake has such a way with words, really, that I’m not sure I have much more to add. Except for quite a bit.

Jake and I met at interviews our senior year of high school and bonded over telling PhD’s our favorite movies, which are just about as odd as we are. This sounds cute, but he was actually dating someone else at the time.

So tough.

It wasn’t until November of that year that I would really talk to him again, with a fair amount of ignorance in his interest in me. Here is a photo for reference.

Can you tell that I wasn’t sold? In my defense, I really needed to pass that chemistry final. But don’t worry! It only took three months for me to catch up :) and a very good thing about Jake is that his love is very patient. And he was patient with me from the start, even sitting through whole loop laps of silence while I contemplated what one word answer I would give to a question that really wasn’t that deep (later we established some Rules of Communication).

Fortunately, we have made it past the awkwardness of silent car rides, first dates, and freshman year. Jake is patient and he is kind, and he finally threw away those basketball shorts he’d had since the 8th grade. Since February 4th of 2022, we have driven to get him a puppy, gone on a lot of walks, hiked through the canyon a couple times, survived long distance, almost made it through college, eaten a lot of pesto and pasta, and grown to love Jesus and each other more.

So October 14th, after he made me a cheesecake in reference of the Cheesecake Incident of 2022 and asked me to marry him, I said yes.

We are so thankful for the community who have walked with us along the way. Thank you for how you have pointed us towards God and His teachings of repentance, love, and grace. Thank you for reminding us that we are fighting on the same team and that love is a choice every day. And thank you now for coming to celebrate the next steps of life with us as I get to marry my best friend, and Jake his. We can’t wait to see you there :)