For me, everything started with attending a church life group that I didn't entirely feel compelled to go to. Every week the question of whether or not I should go out or stay at home ran inside my head, but luckily there was one evening in particular I did decide to attend. That was the night I first laid eyes on Hannah Petelin.

As we all gathered together and took our seats, I noticed a new girl had joined us who I had never met before. She took a seat next to me, and we all began introducing each other in a circle for any newcomers. She introduced herself as Hannah, and as she talked a flurry of questions began to rise in my head. Who was this girl? Did she go to my church? How had I never met her before? What was it about her that seemed so kind and honest when she spoke? And of course most importantly of all, why was she so stinking cute? We talked briefly that night but she was quickly pulled into other conversations. For now I would be left to wonder about her on my own.

For nearly a year things would go on that way. We'd get our brief chances to talk with one another, and more and more I began to see glimpses of the beauty in her heart. It was all the little things about her I noticed. The way she spoke so kindly with others, or the way she talked about the Lord when she spoke at group, the little puns she would make that always brought a smile to my face. Every time I managed to strike up a conversation with her I found myself never wanting it to end. I wasn't sure what I was feeling for her at the time, but in the back of my mind I was growing more and more attracted to this girl.

It was around the start of fall when the Lord finally put me in a place where I knew I wanted to pursue her. I thought about it for nearly two weeks, unbelievably nervous to ask this girl to coffee. After gathering my courage, completely unprompted I asked if she'd like to go to a small coffee shop with me. Even though I'd learn later that she didn't even like coffee in the first place, she said yes.

We met and talked for hours. Eventually one date became five, five became five a week, and it wasn't long before I had fallen head over heels for her. Hannah was and is the most wonderful, beautiful woman I've ever met. She is a selfless, God loving soul, who does things for others simply because she's thinking of them and wants to show the people she loves kindness. Her knowledge and understanding of scripture and of the Lord himself to this day impresses me, and quickly it became clear to me that she is the woman that God has chosen for me to marry.

So, after summoning up a truckload of courage and with a month or so of careful scheming I asked her. She said yes, making me the happiest I've ever been. Hannah is an absolute blessing in my life and an answered prayer. Whatever the world may throw at us, I will be forever thankful that we can face it together, with the Lord as our faithful and perfect guide.

H&C

Wedding Day