Brian is a farmer in the Denton, NE area. Jenny is the Ag Extension Educator for York, Seward, and Fillmore Counties. We both have stories of brokenness including divorce and are grateful for God's goodness and faithfulness to us. He truly writes the best stories!

Isaiah 61:3 "To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

In 2020, Jenny began a soil health small support group of like-minded farmers trying outside-the-box ideas. She didn't know Brian, but a couple other farmers mentioned his name to be part of the original nine. So she called him and it was a great conversation. It impacted her and she prayed that God would give her a man like Brian one day (she assumed he was married).

Over the next few years we interacted professionally at small group, farm meetings and tours, and with farm-related questions. We were also able to see interactions with others and get to know each other's character.

Jenny had worn a ring on her hand since divorce as a reminder of God's love and faithfulness to her from, through, and to all she'd been through with Him in the midst of brokenness and as a promise of purity. During harvest, Jenny removes the ring for safety reasons. In 2023, Brian noticed she wasn't wearing a ring for several months, and in December, asked a friend if Jenny was married. He said no. After praying about it for a week, Brian called Jenny before Christmas asking if he could build a deeper friendship with her. After pausing and understanding he wasn't in a relationship, Jenny said yes.

A date was planned for January but a snowstorm led to a phone conversation instead and most of our relationship building has been via phone calls. The first three conversations were incredibly intentional in sharing stories of brokenness, faith, importance of family, purity, etc. We desired to be so careful with each other's hearts and only move forward if we could seriously see ourselves potentially married. By mid-January, Jenny asked to take a break from conversations to sort out if she could be married again as she was completely content in singleness. Brian also appreciated the break as it allowed time to process the gravity of what we were wanting to build.

We continued to see each other and talk casually at winter meetings but not beyond that. Brian was so kind and respectful of Jenny during that time and that spoke so greatly to her. Brian was also able to see how Jenny treated him with such respect during those interactions. Jenny called him around Easter asking if he would be interested in talking again. He excitedly said Yes! We went hiking at Pioneer's Park in early May. It was after that hike and conversation that we both realized we wished to pursue marriage to each other. However, we also realized we hadn't shared with most people that we had been talking and building friendship.

We spent June-August being very intentional about meeting family and friends both in person and via zoom. Brian even came to help Jenny at the County Fair on a super hot day and did great interacting with everyone! Most of our interactions have been work related or helping on the farm. Brian and Jenny have teamed up for rye/corn/soybean harvest, moving cattle, and seed cleaning.

Because we haven't had many "dates", when Brian asked if Jenny would be available for a date on August 23, she was super excited. He said it was casual, that he would pack a light supper, and that we'd be outdoors for a few hours.

We drove to a flower farm in the Raymond area. Brian had packed some meat and cheese, yellow watermelon (a specialty in his family), and chocolate. Jenny was so excited when he told her they were going flower picking! We had a great time looking at the beauty of God's creation and uniqueness of all the species. After that, Brian drove country roads and pointed out places along the way. We saw the sunset over the lake and then got back to his place about dark.

He had gone in before her and his phone started playing a short playlist he created. The first song was "Gratitude", one of Jenny's favorite songs. We started dancing and singing together. He led her to the curtains which opened up to his backyard. Jenny lost it when he opened the curtains. (Jenny's note: Brian is an incredibly thoughtful and intentional man). Outside were globe lanterns hanging from the trees. Buckets of wildflowers had been lovingly gathered, arranged, and placed amidst candles on his back patio. He had welded a bench as well. He got down on one knee and asked her to marry him. She said Yes! Because Jenny still had the other ring on her finger, Brian led her to the bench where he asked if he could remove her other ring and place his ring on her hand. We had designed it together. We are best friends, incredibly connected to each other, and we seek to serve and partner together in so much of what we do. We look forward to what God has in store for us in partnering together in life in the future!