Acting upon the kind recommendation of a friend, Jenny and I found ourselves that first weekend in March bookending a small table decorated with two paper coffee cups. The afternoon flowed so seamlessly through the topics of baseball, parenting, and Grudem’s Systematic Theology that the bonds of happy necessity mandated the scheduling of a second date and then a third and then a relationship. Over the next several months, as Jenny wrestled with the implications of moving to the end of the alphabet, we traversed the normal dating paths. We played frisbee golf, explored the depths of our Baltimore and Chicago fandoms, talked podcasts and books, and met family. We also traversed some of the more secluded relational trails, some of which had been cut by the rivers of suffering, widowhood, and prolonged singleness and others of which had been cut by our separate and yet shared passion for Jesus and his church. Each time we stepped into each other’s worlds, Jenny felt at home in mine and I in hers. Few things felt as right and good as watching my three kids snuggle up to Jenny during family movie night or worshiping with her at Capitol Hill Baptist Church (CHBC). As spring gave way to summer, being much “in-like” gave way to being much “in-love.”

On Sunday, August 25 after church, Jenny and I pushed our kayak into the gentle rush of the Shenandoah River. About 45 minutes later, we beached the kayak on a little outlet of rocky sand nestled against the riverbank for lunch. I quickly reached my hand into my watertight bag and grabbed our supplies while smuggling the contents of a second watertight bag that had been stashed inside the first (complete with an air tag) into my pocket. With Jenny snuggled securely into my arm, I recounted how she had proved to be a blessing beyond blessings, a beautiful woman whom divine providence had shaped inside and out to fit perfectly into the contours of my heart. After a quick and ever appropriate nod to Proverbs 18:22, I got to one knee, pulled out a ring as Jenny popped to her feet with an agility that surpassed even her walking speed, and then asked her, “Will you marry me?” I am happy to report that beaming Jenny said, “Yes!”

Since that day, our mutual admiration for each other has continued to grow and deepen. We relish in the fun of “being engaged” and the joys of being able to watch football and Survivor together. For the engaged, fall is glorious!

Now, we eagerly anticipate entering into the covenant of marriage- of two becoming one –on January 25, 2025. Thank you for sharing in our celebration of God’s faithfulness to us! God is good!