In our small Cincinnati community, Haerim stuck out to me from the start. I was drawn to her energy, and I saw her heart for God, community, and for her loved ones. We got along well as friends, and grew closer through game nights and pickleball. She wasn't available at the time, but as we'd spend more time getting to know each other, I couldn't help but think: "This is the type of woman I want to marry someday."

As opportunity eventually arose, I wasted no time, and immediately started making any and every excuse to spend more time with her (with puppy Nami as my trusty wing-woman) . My plan was ultimately successful, and now Haerim is stuck with me forever :)

On a more serious note, I thank God every day for bringing Haerim into my life. I'm thankful that she she's me for all my flaws and chooses to love me regardless. I really feel like I'm marrying my best friend, and I'm so excited to build our lives together.

I had been living in Cincinnati for about four months when Nate moved to town as well. At first, we didn’t hang out much, but I noticed how often he’d reach out in the group chat to suggest activities with our community. His suggestions ranged from pickleball and movies to game nights or just grabbing drinks. As we started spending time together more regularly, we also found ourselves serving in a weekly church small group. I remember being intrigued by his heart for discipleship and his unique way of thinking. At the time, I thought to myself, “If I were to set any of my girlfriends up with a guy in Cincinnati, it would definitely be him.” Little did I know…

Somewhere along the way, Nate adopted Nami, the sweetest mini golden doodle. As our group hangouts became more frequent, so did my encounters with Nami. I got to spend more time with her whenever Nate went out of town, and I quickly grew to adore her. I even joined the two of them at the dog park a few times, and seeing Nate take care of Nami was incredibly sweet.

Over time, our group outings transitioned into one-on-one hangouts—often with Nami tagging along. We discovered our mutual love for food and started exploring some amazing local spots together. Throughout our time dating, we’ve found our favorite places in Cincinnati, traveled to new destinations, and shared deep conversations that not only strengthened our relationship but also challenged us to grow individually. I’ve come to love the kind, thoughtful, strong, and fun man that Nate is. Early on in our relationship, I knew I wanted to marry him, and every moment since has only confirmed that.

Fast forward to January 3, 2025: we were exploring Georgetown, D.C., together. After a long day of exploring Georgetown, we were admiring the view from Waterfront Park. In a brief pause when the snow let up, Nate turned to me and said, “It’s time.” Then, he got down on one knee, and you already know how that moment ended—I said yes! Now, I’m over the moon to be marrying this amazing man and starting our forever together.