Jake was adjusting to the medical device industry and helping out a coworker at St. Peter's Hospital in Albany, NY on August 28th of 2020. Taylor had been spoken about by Jake's coworker before, " keep your eye out for a cute blonde that works at St. Peter's, I play golf with her dad..great guy." That afternoon, his eyes met Taylor outside of the operating room, as they put scrub hats on. "I'm Jake, I work with Arthrex." "I'm Taylor, I do joints with DePuy." We've kept it professional since the start guys.. Jake immediately texted his coworker, "Just met Taylor, let's go." He proceeded to focus back on his case to make sure no instruments were thrown at him that day. (We see it all in our careers in the OR!) Taylor asked the staff who that tall boy was with her big giddy smile, and proceeded to replace some more joints that afternoon.

One year later, after bumping into each other just one other time at Clifton Park ASC, where Jake mainly works, August 28th 2021 would prove be a game changer for Jake and Taylor.

Briana, Jake's sister in law, had relocated to Albany to prepare for her marriage to Jake's brother Garrett, and saw something special in Taylor that she couldn't go without sharing with Jake. One night back at the Mallows (Garrett's house that he, Seany Fi and Jake lived in together), Bri said to Jake "Do you KNOW Taylor Hogan?" She wears crocks, but she reads the bible." Jake's ears remained wide open as Bri explained their new friendship and the high quality woman Taylor is.

Back to August 28th...our day! Taylor was dressed in a blue and white striped jumpsuit, watching Saratoga's finest ponies suit up for the Travers Stakes at the Spa. Jake was celebrating his brother's bachelor party with 20 other guys, when his eyes met Taylor's amidst a sea of people all enjoying the summer sensation. Jake was rocking his favorite seer sucker suit, and Taylor approached him and all the boys. The conversation took care of itself, that's what happens when you're soaking in the Saratoga sun on one of the most fun weekends of the summer. It wasn't until later that night when Jake and the boys couldn't get into the beloved Dango's bar for live music that Taylor left the bar to have a few more words with the tall man in the seer sucker suit. It was right on Broadway in Saratoga where Jake and Taylor exchanged phone numbers. Exactly one year from when they met at St. Peter's.

On September 8th, Jake asked Taylor on a lunch date at Core Life in Latham. They started to realize they had some mutual connections that pierced their hearts and ended up needing the rain to end their date that day. The convo was flowing! Jake called his sister Tori, and told her he met a girl just like her but he could actually date her. Taylor was moving his heart towards the freedom in Christ that He had always been seeking. Taylor called her sister Jillian, and said to her, "well, I think I just went on my last first date."

Jake gets excited about things and figured he should invite Taylor, who he had met once, to their family volleyball CAT tournament in the back yard. Whole family, second hangout, no problem. Taylor and Jake stayed up late that night diving into each others stories and Jake knew that he was invested in everything about this beautiful woman, Taylor Louise Hogan. Taylor was a giddy little girl smiling ear to ear, feeling understood and known in a way like never before.

Jake and Taylor crushed a workout at Metabolic that next week, and went out for smoothies at Bowled in Malta. That led to dinner at Bentley's and a walk that included some deep conversations regarding vocations and where the Lord had brought the two up to this point.

October 1st, Jake asked Taylor to go to one of his favorite Saratoga restaurants, Seneca, where he knew he wanted to ask Taylor to be his girlfriend. Taylor was on call that night, and had to tend to some work things which deterred the conversation a little bit. (Life of a med rep!) Jake and Taylor started officially dating later that night and have been dating each other intentionally everyday since.

God has made it clear from the start that he has been orchestrating Jake and Taylor's love story far before they had even met. Uncovering family history and the love for the Lord on both Taylor and Jake's side, the two kids in love are reminded all of the time of the prayers of their parents, grandparents, and loved ones of how God truly does work good for those that love him. (Romans 8:28) - yup, that's our verse, and our day!

Jake proposed to Taylor on Palm Sunday in Little Falls, New York in front of the altar at Holy Family Parish and Taylor's beautiful mother, Michelle. Father Brian Slezak, who has been Jake's spiritual director over the last few years blessed the ring and the engagement, and Jake and Taylor's marriage preparation with Father got underway!

We cannot wait to welcome you all into the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and Franklin Plaza this December 9th to celebrate our Holy Matrimony and souls becoming one! We are so blessed by all of you and your love for us in making this dream become a reality! Let's do it!