Our story begins in Winona, Minnesota. Sammy had just moved here from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, as he started his first year as a FOCUS Missionary. He came to Winona expecting a bigger city, not really taking a liking to this small town, but ready to begin his first year and new life as a missionary, which required him to “fast” from dating for a year. Evelyn had just moved back to start her junior year of college and she remembers meeting Sammy their very first day doing campus outreach. Sammy however remembers her catching his eye earlier that summer on a zoom call.

The fall semester was a time of growth for both Sammy and Evelyn. From the moment she met him, she knew he was the one, however, both were not ready for a relationship at the time. They became focused on pursuing a deeper relationship with the Lord so that when the time was right one day they could pursue one with each other. They both had to grow in patience and learn to trust the Lord's timing. Sammy was super busy adjusting to the life of a new missionary while Evelyn's schedule was consumed by work and nursing school. The only time they really saw each other was after daily mass in the mornings, before heading off to their busy days.

Fast forward to St. Joseph's feast day... the day when everything started falling into place. Sammy and Evelyn started spending more and more time together at Newman Center events, but neither one knew that they liked the other. On St. Joseph's feast day, while everyone else was making their bird houses with screws, nails, and drills, Sammy convinced Evelyn that she needed to hold hers together with only wood glue. The two of them spent most of the day joking around while making that birdhouse.

Easter - another big day! Evelyn had to work on Easter and was extremely bummed that she had to go to the Easter Vigil alone, little did she know Sammy changed the mass time that he was going to, just so that he could go to the vigil with her. That night they talked in the parking lot after mass for an hour and a half. Then on Easter Sunday they celebrated by having their first Porch Party with some friends. Evelyn wore her Twins jersey to rub in the fact that they had beaten the Brewers the day before and you can bet Sammy noticed. The two had a great time all night just goofing around and unintentionally flirting all night long.

After that weekend the two of them realized just how much they had in common. They always dressed the same and found out that they had the exact same interests. Whether it be their love of basketball, Nike shoes, chicken nuggets, pizza or Mother Mary.... they realized just how similar they were. They started spending more and more time together (in groups of course, because Sammy was still on his dating fast) having intentional conversations, getting to know each other and becoming very good friends.

The week after Sammy’s dating fast had ended (which Evy still thought he was on) they spent the entire week going on many unofficial first dates. A day filled with painting and holy leisure; then, May 4th was Star Wars day, so of course they watched Star Wars all day long until Sammy suggested to all of the guys that they watch Frozen II instead, which just so happened to be Evelyn’s favorite movie. The next day they went golfing and out for margaritas at noon to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Sammy and Evelyn went with a group, but it was as if the two were there all by themselves. So much so that they didn't even realize that one of their friends was having an allergic reaction! Thursday after morning mass, Sammy, asked if he could drive her home and asked her what she was going to do that day. They ended up going on a walk around the lake and shared practically everything about one another. That night, Porch Party number two happened, and their friends were starting to grow suspicious while the two of them were still clueless that they liked each other. Friday they had brunch with their friends after mass and said what they thought was goodbye for the summer, as Evelyn was headed off to the Moab desert with a group from the Newman Center. Sammy stayed home even though Evelyn offered to pay him $20 a month to join his support team, to get him to come.

Friday as Evelyn and the group were driving to the airport, Sammy's teammate Claire texted him saying that she knew he was interested in Evelyn. She ended up asking him, "well, what are you going to do about it?" Sammy thought, crap, she is in the desert and going home for the summer, what am I going to do about it? After coming up with his plan, Evelyn was already in the desert without any phone service. She had thought that she had already said goodbye and wasn't going to see him until September. She spent 5.5 hours in adoration one night talking to the Lord about what she was going to do and He continuously reminded her to trust in His goodness and His promise, and to just be patient. Sammy waited to call her once she had returned to Winona and as soon as she got back, the Lord provided and there was the call.

Their first date. Sammy knew a few things about this day... Evelyn would be getting back to Minnesota and have cell service so he could call her! But he also knew that she only had one day in Winona before she went home for the summer but it was also the same Saturday that he was in Oshkosh golfing with his brother and friends! As soon as golf was done at noon, Evelyn was back in Winona by then; Sammy gave her a call asking her on their first date for that same night! She said yes, and he immediately left Oshkosh and drove the four hours to meet with her in Winona for their first date! It was there that he knew she was the one. Especially when he arrived at her house to pick her up and she was watching "The Last Dance" the Michael Jordan documentary!

Fitting that Michael Jordan is number 23, as that was also the date that they started officially dating -- May 23rd. Almost immediately after they started dating, Sammy had to head to Bismarck, ND, for FOCUS New Staff Training and so began their summer of long distance.

Summer distance was tough, but was actually super beautiful. It gave us time to talk each night and pray using FaceTime. It was great, even though there was lots of time with "poor connection." It truly made each moment together in person that much sweeter. June 11th was the first time that Sammy went to her home in Lucan, MN to meet her family. It was also the first time that he told her he loved her, and you can guess it, she told him right back! They spent the night dancing away at her twin brother’s wedding. A few weeks later, Evelyn visited Sammy's family in Milwaukee; they went to a Brewer's game and they had the best time --- unfortunately, it was clear, Evelyn will always remain a loyal Minnesota sports fan!

Throughout the summer, the two went on many rosary walks and drove back and forth from Lucan to Musksego to Winona, and all of the in-between. Meeting up most weekends whenever they had the chance. Throughout the summer and into the fall, Sammy & Evelyn would visit the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse WI, once a month to pray and go to confession. It easily became one of their favorite spots.

Once the fall semester started, they continued to go on rosary walks every day and are blessed to be able to attend daily mass together every day. Most days they are even lucky enough to spend time in adoration together but even when they aren't, they still meet up for night prayer and to pray the Litany of Trust, which they have been praying together since their first date.

What a day to remember! Evelyn's favorite Saint for a very long time has been St. John Paul II. She even has “Be Not Afraid” tattooed on her foot, in his handwriting!. However, she was sad that she was unable to celebrate his feast day with her friend Emily, whom she had been able to celebrate it with since her freshman year of college. Emily had just been married and was out of town on her honeymoon. However, Sammy knew that this would be her favorite feast day yet. They started out the day by going to daily mass at the Cathedral and then stopped at Taco Bell for breakfast while picking up a feast day latte, before heading to the Shrine of our Lady of Guadalupe. Once they arrived, they began praying the rosary as they walked up the bluff to get to the shrine. Once they got into the chapel, Sammy asked her if she wanted to finish praying the rosary at the front of the church. After they finished praying the rosary, they proceeded to pray their favorite prayer, the Litany of Trust. As soon as they finished praying, they stood up and Sammy got down on one knee and asked her to marry him! It was the most beautiful day and perfect in every way! The Father continues to reveal to us just how faithful He is to us each and every day.

2022 - We are so blessed and cannot wait to celebrate with all of you! See you on June 4!! St. John Paul II, pray for us. Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us. St. Joseph, pray for us.