What you should probably know is that timing is everything. Specifically, God’s timing is everything. For those who haven’t had a chance to spend extensive time with both of us, we’d like to do a Q&A on our journey so far and share how God brought us together.

What first attracted you to each other?

Gordon: When I first connected with Jenn on Hinge, she “liked” my list of TV shows which prompted me to think “someone who actually likes my unusual taste in Sci-Fi is definitely worth getting to know!” since it was the thing I least expected someone to actually like on my dating profile. When we met on our first date and started talking, it was obvious to me that Jenn’s personal relationship with the Lord is very strong and has motivated many decisions in her life and continues to do so, which is very important to me. Her energy and personality also really captured my attention as I felt like I could really talk to her about anything.

Jenn: What struck me about Gordon, even from our first date, was that he loved God, he was honest, the Holy Spirit was influential in how he lived out his faith, and he loved his family. I’m not sure exactly what I was expecting from a first date, but that showed through so clearly through our conversation and from what he told me of his life, that I wanted to know him more. I even went home and told my friends that I really liked spending time with him that day and that I liked him so much that I was ready to get off Hinge for him, haha!

What was the most memorable dating moment for you?

Gordon: Jenn is really great to spend time with, so this is kind of tough to answer for me. If I were to pick one, I think what comes to mind is how surprised I was when she was as equally enthusiastic as me to watch Top Gun: Maverick, and then how we enthusiastically picked apart the movie in discussion afterwards; both in poking fun at the more ridiculous things about the film, but also the good and enjoyable aspects about the movie too.

Jenn: It’s kinda hard to pick one, because we’ve had a lot of fun together, but I’d say one of my more enjoyable ones was this one time when we were out for a hike in Door County. There was this beautiful area called Toft Point State Natural Area that had really cool hiking with ruins, cool fungi, and beautiful beaches with tide pools. It was so fun to be out exploring with Gordon and just getting to talk and know each other better. I feel like Gordon is up for adventuring and it brings a lot of excitement to our relationship to be able to explore together.

What was one surprising obsession you learned about the other person?

Gordon: Definitely Jenn’s fascination with fungi…I’ll let her unpack that one! :)

Jenn: Gordon’s obsession with Costco key lime pie and with all things Costco in general. I wasn’t even aware before this year that there is a key lime pie season at Costco, but I have learned the error of my ways! ;D

What has changed about your life since meeting each other?

Gordon: In a practical sense, my mental and physical health have definitely improved since meeting Jenn. She is so incredibly encouraging, patient and gentle so it makes getting through the everyday battles easier.

We also enjoy taking walks together, doing exercise and devotionals together in the morning, which has helped significantly with keeping each other motivated to a healthier lifestyle.

Jenn is also a great sounding board and challenges me to think about bigger picture things and care more about the needs of others. I have no doubt in my mind that we can help each other grow as people, grow in our relationship with God, and face the challenges of daily living together.

Jenn: One of the major things that has changed is that for most of my young adult and adult life I was torn between whether to stay single, start a convent, and serve Jesus with the rest of my life, or look for someone to marry and start a family with. Obviously, for quite a significant part of my adult life, the first desire won out, but that has definitely changed with Gordon! It was kind of a major worldview reorientation, but it’s been exciting in a great way. I’m excited about walking alongside him every day and doing ministry together.

Another aspect of spending time with Gordon is that I have gotten to know the Bridgeport area of Chicago a whole lot better and I’m sure if I asked my roommates, they’d say, “She spends an awful lot of time down there”, lol. They’d be right. It’s been great integrating our worlds and circles of friends and discovering who we knew in common already.

Gordon is also very easy to talk to, and I appreciate that we can have an honest conversation about everything. I also love that we have a number of shared interests that we can geek out on too!

How did you know that you wanted to marry the other person?

Gordon: There were two moments that made me realize that I wanted to marry Jenn. The first one was when I revealed something about myself that left me very vulnerable, and Jenn fully accepted me and took the effort to truly understand me. I knew at that moment that Jenn truly loved all of me, even the parts I thought no one would ever be able to love. The second moment was when we were at a coffee shop one morning reading the Bible together during our trip to Door County.

As we were reading Matthew 6, part of Jesus’ sermon on the mount, verses 19-21 really stuck out to me powerfully. 19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

I remember as soon as I read those verses, I heard the voice of the Holy Spirit tell me that if I really wanted to lay up treasures in heaven and partner with someone that has the same mindset, that person was sitting right across from me. Verse 21 also challenged me to think critically about what I was valuing in my dating relationship with Jenn at the time and take a hard look at what I was truly treasuring. Was I treasuring the things that society says I should value in a partner, or what God says through the Bible that I should value in a partner? I remember after that moment, I began to see Jenn differently, and it’s as though Jenn became more and more beautiful because God revealed and continues to reveal that beauty to me.

Jenn: During Memorial Day weekend God gave me a dream about Gordon and that there was something in particular about himself that he needed to tell me. God gave me a vision of the kind of thing Gordon needed to tell me. When I woke up, I was troubled initially, but I realized that it was the kind of thing people need time and trust to share, so I prayed about it and about how I should respond.

A week later I was getting boba with Gordon on a Sunday after church and he shared with me the thing God shared with me in the dream, and I knew at that time that 1) It was important enough to God and my relationship with Gordon that God shared it with me in advance, so I could be prepared to hear it. 2) Gordon trusted me and was honest with me to share it and that meant he was being incredibly vulnerable and I had a choice to make; but of course, I had already prayed about it and God showed me that Gordon’s character and love for him are consistent and faithful. God 's reminder to me of Gordon’s character and love for him gave me peace to trust God and what he was doing in my relationship with Gordon. So, I would say that it was that moment of vulnerability and honesty from Gordon that made me realize he was the man I was going to marry and the man I wanted to marry.