Erin and Jorien met on December 21, 2021, in North Carolina, at a church Christmas party. Erin, in that season, was a member of the church, while Jorien was in town visiting a friend who attended.

Jorien: "When I first saw Erin, she was at a table sitting by herself. She caught my eye, however, when I looked at her I just got the impression that she was somebody's wife, or at least had to be spoken for. By the end of the night though, I hadn't seen anybody go over to the table to sit with her."

The party was a lively night for the congregation, filled with fellowship, games, music, and dancing. A highlight was the gingerbread house contest, which, despite Jorien's protests, Erin won.

Noticing that, again, no one had come to sit with her, Jorien walked over to Erin's table to congratulate her on her win and start a conversation.

Jorien: "I was robbed—highway robbery, no less. I was definitely upset. Despite that, I saw a chance to introduce myself to Erin. But as I approached, her friend started playing and smashed Erin's gingerbread house. I still tried to talk to her, but it felt like she didn’t even notice me."

Erin: "I have no recollection of him even being there. All I remember is being upset because this gingerbread house that I made got smashed."

Needless to say, that encounter has sparked an ongoing loving (but competitive) tradition of gingerbread house-making contests during the holidays. (The score is currently 1-1)

Fast forward to November 2022: Jorien, now in the process of moving to North Carolina, crossed paths with Erin again at the same church. After the service, many members, including Erin, would gather to fellowship and grab a meal. Seeing this, Jorien decided to join them, seizing the opportunity to get to know Erin better.

Jorien: "Honestly, I wanted to be sure I was pursuing this because God was calling me to do so, and not out of my own desires. I fasted, prayed, and tried to be certain it was the Lord guiding me, but I was still hesitant. I didn’t want to make a mistake, be disobedient to God, or waste Erin's time.

Erin: "I peeped game from a mile away. The longer Jorien was around, the more I could tell that he was interested. He made it very clear by making sure to come and approach me individually, regardless of if we were in a group or not. I flat out told one of my friends 'I know he's interested and is going to try and talk to me soon'."

On December 11, 2022, after fasting and praying earnestly for guidance, Jorien found the courage to ask Erin for her phone number at the end of the church service.

Jorien: "I might have been overthinking, but I wasn’t looking to date—I wanted to be intentional. That day’s sermon was from Luke 1 about Zechariah and his wife, and receiving an answer regarding a persistent prayer they both shared for wanting a child. Our pastor reminded us, "God can do anything with nothing. If He said it, it will be so." I said to God, "If Erin is the woman You want me to pursue, I'll do it today and I won't be afraid." After praying, I felt a push and heard a voice softly say, 'She has something special inside of her.'"

Erin: "Just as I was walking out the door, Jorien stopped me and tried to recall a conversation that we had had at a previous outing. He used the corniest pick-up line, and asked me for my number. Quite frankly, I said 'Yes.' without even thinking about it, and put my number in his phone. I thought to myself, 'I'll make a decision about actually talking to him if he actually texts me.'

The couple hit it off quickly, much to their surprise, and talked nonstop for days. They hung out on December 13th, playing a game designed to help them share their backgrounds. The conversations that day impacted them in ways they never expected after knowing each other for such a short time.

Erin: "I went into this super guarded because I wanted to make sure this was something God wanted me to do. However, I realized in the moment that I had the one thing God promised me I would have when I met 'my person'. I had such a peace about Jorien that to this day has never left. Admist the nerves my spirit knew this was where I was supposed to be, and that's all I needed.

Jorien: "I wondered about her walk with God, her heart for serving, and who she truly was at her core. After hours of conversation, I felt a deep peace. I shared my testimony and struggles, unsure of her response. To my amazement, she didn’t just listen; she offered help, showing empathy and willingness to support me. It reminded me of Genesis 24 and how God guided Abraham's servant and prospered his journey in seeking a wife for Isaac. In that moment, I felt a profound peace. When I left the only thing I could say about Erin was that I never knew what my hand looked like, until I put a glove on that fit.

Following that experience, the couple decided to follow where the Lord was leading them and made their relationship official on December 14, 2022. They quickly agreed on what God had confirmed to them. Their first date, a gentle stroll through the North Carolina Chinese Lantern Festival on December 18th, was filled with conversation and light displays. From then on, they spent their days making memories through road trips, serving in ministry, having adventures, playing games, trying new foods, and just genuinely loving each other's company.

Jorien had intended to propose on March 1st, 2024, but the Lord had other plans. After a long day, Erin and Jorien went grocery shopping at Wegmans on February 17th, 2024. Casually, Jorien asked, "If I proposed to you right now, what would you say?" Erin replied, "I would say 'Yes'. It doesn't matter where you propose, I'm always going to say 'Yes'." Right there, in the aisle, Jorien grabbed Erin's hands and poured out his heart to her. Distracted, Erin heard the words but didn't realize what was happening until Jorien got on one knee and asked her to be his wife.

Erin: " I cannot stress how shocked and just mentally unprepared I was for this proposal. However, in true Jorien fashion, he chose a very unorthodox but also very sincere route. I was focused on finding my McCormick's Season All and he was pouring his heart out to me. Which is quite normal for him because he has always been emotionally expressive towards me. But between me being distracted and the commotion of people walking back and forth behind us, I couldn't even see that one of the happiest moments of my life was getting ready to take place. When I finally realized he was actually proposing, I said yes then and I would say it again a thousand times more."

Neither of them expected to get engaged that day but God knew, and that's all that matters.