The usual Sunday for Janie, would usually play out like this: wake up, get ready for church, attend mass, look for that cute boy somewhere in the pews, talk about what's for brunch, go home and relax. That was the routine. But then, one day, it happened... Janie was talking to her mom and the music director at church, and looking over her mom's shoulder, she saw that cute boy talking to her dad. Very curious and excited to see what they were talking about, she started to turn her feet away from the current conversation, and slowing but surely moved on towards a different, more intriguing interaction. So many thoughts were running through her head.

The closer she got, she realized that they were talking about the weather. She instanlty knew this guy liked her. How did she know this so quickly? They were talking about the weather, come on. It was obvoius.

Soon after joining the conversation, Janie's dad left to go talk to someone else.

Trying to think of something fast, she asked the cute guy, "Have you joined the young adult volleyball group this summer?"

Ryan said, "No, I haven't actually."

"Oh, well I can add you to the groupchat if your interested?" She said.

"Yeah! Sounds awesome!"

They exchanged numbers. Did they ever go to volleyball together that summer? Nope! However, they started dating three weeks later. Funny how that worked, huh?

Their first date night was spent the very next day at Sacred Heart's Monday Night mass. And they were officially boyfriend and girlfriend just a few weeks after that.

Some months go by, and one day, Ryan asks Janie what she wanted to do Friday night.

She said, "I don't know. What would you like to do?"

"Well, I was thinking about going to Sacred Heart for their adoration hour that their putting on this coming up Friday night. And afterwards, we could go out to eat? What do ya think?" he asked her.

Of course, she said yes. That sounded like a great night!

So, when Friday came, they drove to Sacred heart, but the parking lot was empty. She did not think anything of it, but Ryan, who was looking a little extra sweaty on that April afternoon, starting to explain that they had accidentally arrived a little too early, so that was why the parking lot was so empty. Janie shrugged her shoulders and said "That's fine, I don't mind."

Walking inside, Ryan said, "Hey I think Rachel and Jared are actually already here too. They're up in the loft."

So, just going along with that, Janie started to make her way up the stairs to greet Ryan's sister and her boyfriend. Not even thinking about anything in particular, Janie saw that there were lit candles lined up along the wall of the staircase making their way up the the loft. They looked like they were unattended. Janie said "Those candle look cute, but kind of dangerous."

At the top of the staricase was a bouquet of roses, and Janie was all too quickly passing the beautifully set up scene, Ryan gently grabbed her hands, and started to say, "Janie, I love you so much..." Knelt to the ground on one knee, then eveything clicked in Janie"s head just then... the empty parking lot, the candles, the roses...

"Oh my goodness! YES!"

And so, the date is set. June 29th, 2024, this couple and all their loved ones are all gathering together at Sacred Heart church, the same place that they were engaged in. Janie and Ryan are so so excited to say "I do!"

Thank you so much for reading about our story. We are so ready to celebrate with each and every one of you!