The story of Ellie and Kevin started, and almost ended, in March 2022. If it had not been for the determination of our friend Hannah, we may never have worked out.

In the Spring of 2022, Ellie was over online dating and looking to get set up - at Bunco one night, and eager to help, Hannah showed Ellie a picture of a friend she had from her college days at OSU, some guy named Kevin. She then messaged Kevin on Instagram and sent him Ellie's number (not to mention a really cute picture of her...) and he sent her a text soon after. Alas, the one night of texting ended just as quickly as it started. Both Ellie and Kevin waited the next day for the other one to say something, but nothing happened...

Then, in August 2023, Hannah was spurred on again, sure that Ellie and Kevin would make a good match if they could get past the awkwardness of a blind date. She hatched a plan to get them together and orchestrated a double date in September. This time around, both Ellie and Kevin saw Hannah's confidence in their potential as a positive sign. It was when Ellie reached out to Kevin to say "Hi!" that the conversation changed from being guarded to being intentional. They started talking again on August 27th, 2023, and haven't stopped since.

On September 8th the two went on a Double Date with Hannah and Josh, and the next day they spent the day together going to the OSU football game in Corvallis.

A week later, after making her dinner and showing her his favorite movie (Jurassic Park) for the first time, Kevin took Ellie on a walk around Newberg and they decided to make it official.

It wasn't until Kevin came to Church in Lebanon for the first time a few weeks later that the news broke at Ellie's school; Kevin quickly became a favorite topic in Miss B's classroom, attending basketball games and chaperoning student events with her. After spending the holidays with each other's families, it was becoming more and more clear that this was a good match.

February 3rd was a big day for the couple as they went to look at engagement rings together for the first time. Wanting their parents to meet before getting engaged, Ken and Kim hosted Jeff and Lori for a lunch in April, the same weekend Kevin took Ellie's dad, Jeff, out to breakfast to ask his blessing to marry her.

Then, on May 25th (after making sure Hannah took Ellie to get her nails done, and with a fresh haircut) Kevin took Ellie on the same walk they had taken in September; in the same place they decided to begin dating, he asked her to marry him. Ellie's favorite detail is the Bible Kevin gifted her when they returned to his house to leave for a special dinner. When the news broke on text and at church the next day, so many people sent us congratulations and thanked God with us for answering so many of our prayers.

So many people have prayed for each of us to find the person we were to marry; so many of you have sat with us as we wondered and waited. So many of you have opened your homes to us and had seats for us at your table during this season of being single, and so many of you have walked with us in Joy during this season of dating and engagement. The Lord is so kind and so good.

We're so excited to be married and celebrate with you all, and to celebrate not just our marriage, but the goodness of God and His gospel.

Much love,

Ellie and Kevin

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