The Venue

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception

Happy Hour

Dinner

Our Wedding

Thomas&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;met&nbsp;on&nbsp;September&nbsp;12,&nbsp;2023,&nbsp;at&nbsp;Hosanna&nbsp;Lutheran&nbsp;Church.&nbsp;They&nbsp;were&nbsp;having&nbsp;their&nbsp;block&nbsp;party&nbsp;that&nbsp;evening,&nbsp;and&nbsp;we&nbsp;were&nbsp;both&nbsp;in&nbsp;attendance.&nbsp;I&nbsp;was&nbsp;talking&nbsp;with&nbsp;a&nbsp;friend&nbsp;of&nbsp;mine&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;told&nbsp;her&nbsp;that&nbsp;something&nbsp;or&nbsp;someone&nbsp;is&nbsp;drawing&nbsp;me&nbsp;to&nbsp;meeting&nbsp;'that&nbsp;guy&nbsp;over&nbsp;there'.&nbsp;He&nbsp;sat&nbsp;down&nbsp;at&nbsp;a&nbsp;table&nbsp;with&nbsp;some&nbsp;people&nbsp;I&nbsp;knew,&nbsp;and&nbsp;there&nbsp;just&nbsp;happened&nbsp;to&nbsp;be&nbsp;an&nbsp;empty&nbsp;seat&nbsp;right&nbsp;across&nbsp;from&nbsp;him,&nbsp;so&nbsp;I&nbsp;sat&nbsp;down&nbsp;and&nbsp;joined&nbsp;in&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;conversation.&nbsp;Within&nbsp;minutes,&nbsp;I&nbsp;turned&nbsp;to&nbsp;Thomas&nbsp;and&nbsp;introduced&nbsp;myself&nbsp;to&nbsp;him,&nbsp;which&nbsp;is&nbsp;not&nbsp;real&nbsp;typical&nbsp;of&nbsp;me&nbsp;to&nbsp;do.&nbsp;We&nbsp;had&nbsp;time&nbsp;for&nbsp;a&nbsp;short&nbsp;conversation&nbsp;about&nbsp;Fitness&nbsp;for&nbsp;10&nbsp;and&nbsp;how&nbsp;he&nbsp;could&nbsp;tell&nbsp;I&nbsp;worked&nbsp;out&nbsp;(even&nbsp;though&nbsp;it&nbsp;had&nbsp;been&nbsp;some&nbsp;time&nbsp;since&nbsp;I’d&nbsp;been&nbsp;there)&nbsp;and&nbsp;that&nbsp;he&nbsp;works&nbsp;out&nbsp;there&nbsp;too.&nbsp;That&nbsp;closed&nbsp;up&nbsp;the&nbsp;evening&nbsp;at&nbsp;church&nbsp;.&nbsp;&nbsp;I&nbsp;got&nbsp;home,&nbsp;and&nbsp;for&nbsp;the&nbsp;life&nbsp;of&nbsp;me,&nbsp;I&nbsp;could&nbsp;not&nbsp;remember&nbsp;his&nbsp;name.&nbsp;So,&nbsp;when&nbsp;I&nbsp;got&nbsp;home,&nbsp;I&nbsp;messaged&nbsp;our&nbsp;mutual&nbsp;friend,&nbsp;Andy,&nbsp;and&nbsp;asked&nbsp;what&nbsp;his&nbsp;name&nbsp;was,&nbsp;and&nbsp;he&nbsp;shared&nbsp;it&nbsp;with&nbsp;me.&nbsp;I&nbsp;messaged&nbsp;Thomas&nbsp;and&nbsp;told&nbsp;him&nbsp;it&nbsp;was&nbsp;a&nbsp;great&nbsp;meeting&nbsp;him&nbsp;and&nbsp;that&nbsp;I&nbsp;had&nbsp;hoped&nbsp;to&nbsp;see&nbsp;him&nbsp;around&nbsp;again.&nbsp;I’m&nbsp;pretty&nbsp;sure&nbsp;I&nbsp;said&nbsp;'Hosanna&nbsp;is&nbsp;an&nbsp;amazing&nbsp;place',&nbsp;not&nbsp;knowing&nbsp;he&nbsp;had&nbsp;been&nbsp;attending&nbsp;there&nbsp;for&nbsp;11&nbsp;years.&nbsp;Just&nbsp;at&nbsp;separate&nbsp;times&nbsp;and&nbsp;separate&nbsp;places&nbsp;as&nbsp;me,&nbsp;until&nbsp;that&nbsp;evening.&nbsp;He&nbsp;INSTANTLY&nbsp;responded!!&nbsp;We&nbsp;chatted&nbsp;for&nbsp;a&nbsp;bit,&nbsp;and&nbsp;then&nbsp;it&nbsp;was&nbsp;time&nbsp;for&nbsp;bed. The&nbsp;following&nbsp;day,&nbsp;he&nbsp;had&nbsp;asked&nbsp;if&nbsp;I&nbsp;was&nbsp;going&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;Friday&nbsp;night&nbsp;worship&nbsp;at&nbsp;Hosanna,&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;said&nbsp;yes.&nbsp;He&nbsp;asked&nbsp;if&nbsp;we&nbsp;could&nbsp;sit&nbsp;together&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;said&nbsp;yes….again!!&nbsp;He&nbsp;met&nbsp;me&nbsp;there,&nbsp;and&nbsp;when&nbsp;I&nbsp;walked&nbsp;in,&nbsp;I&nbsp;was&nbsp;in&nbsp;awe!!&nbsp;He&nbsp;looked&nbsp;so&nbsp;handsome&nbsp;in&nbsp;his&nbsp;black&nbsp;shirt&nbsp;and&nbsp;jeans.&nbsp;The&nbsp;funny&nbsp;part&nbsp;about&nbsp;the&nbsp;whole&nbsp;thing&nbsp;is&nbsp;that&nbsp;not&nbsp;a&nbsp;bit&nbsp;of&nbsp;me&nbsp;was&nbsp;nervous!&nbsp;I&nbsp;felt&nbsp;completely&nbsp;comfortable!!&nbsp;The&nbsp;worship&nbsp;team&nbsp;was&nbsp;AMAZING,&nbsp;as&nbsp;always,&nbsp;and&nbsp;our&nbsp;time&nbsp;spent&nbsp;in&nbsp;worship&nbsp;together&nbsp;was&nbsp;beyond&nbsp;words.&nbsp;I&nbsp;can’t&nbsp;even&nbsp;explain&nbsp;how&nbsp;I&nbsp;felt&nbsp;that&nbsp;evening,&nbsp;just&nbsp;that&nbsp;it&nbsp;felt&nbsp;right!&nbsp;Did&nbsp;I&nbsp;meet&nbsp;a&nbsp;man&nbsp;who&nbsp;loves&nbsp;Jesus&nbsp;the&nbsp;way&nbsp;I&nbsp;love&nbsp;Him?&nbsp;Was&nbsp;he&nbsp;the&nbsp;reason&nbsp;God&nbsp;kept&nbsp;telling&nbsp;me&nbsp;no&nbsp;all&nbsp;these&nbsp;years??&nbsp;&nbsp; Following&nbsp;worship,&nbsp;we&nbsp;went&nbsp;to&nbsp;Starbucks&nbsp;for&nbsp;coffee&nbsp;and&nbsp;to&nbsp;get&nbsp;to&nbsp;know&nbsp;each&nbsp;other.&nbsp;We&nbsp;spent&nbsp;the&nbsp;next&nbsp;couple&nbsp;of&nbsp;hours&nbsp;sharing&nbsp;our&nbsp;stories&nbsp;with&nbsp;each&nbsp;other,&nbsp;and&nbsp;then&nbsp;they&nbsp;kicked&nbsp;us&nbsp;out.&nbsp;They&nbsp;said&nbsp;it’s&nbsp;closing&nbsp;time,&nbsp;so&nbsp;our&nbsp;evening&nbsp;was&nbsp;coming&nbsp;to&nbsp;a&nbsp;close&nbsp;too.&nbsp;We&nbsp;both&nbsp;went&nbsp;our&nbsp;separate&nbsp;ways&nbsp;but&nbsp;never&nbsp;stopped&nbsp;talking&nbsp;on&nbsp;a&nbsp;daily&nbsp;basis&nbsp;from&nbsp;that&nbsp;moment.&nbsp;&nbsp; Early&nbsp;on&nbsp;in&nbsp;our&nbsp;time&nbsp;together,&nbsp;we&nbsp;also&nbsp;went&nbsp;through&nbsp;an&nbsp;extremely&nbsp;sad&nbsp;time.&nbsp;Thomas’&nbsp;mom&nbsp;became&nbsp;Ill.&nbsp;I&nbsp;got&nbsp;a&nbsp;few&nbsp;wonderful&nbsp;months&nbsp;with&nbsp;her&nbsp;and&nbsp;some&nbsp;pretty&nbsp;special&nbsp;bonding&nbsp;time.&nbsp;We&nbsp;got&nbsp;to&nbsp;spend&nbsp;our&nbsp;first&nbsp;Thanksgiving&nbsp;together&nbsp;with&nbsp;her&nbsp;and&nbsp;our&nbsp;first&nbsp;Christmas&nbsp;together&nbsp;with&nbsp;her,&nbsp;One&nbsp;evening&nbsp;while&nbsp;we&nbsp;were&nbsp;visiting,&nbsp;when&nbsp;she&nbsp;wasn’t&nbsp;talking&nbsp;much&nbsp;anymore&nbsp;or&nbsp;up&nbsp;and&nbsp;moving&nbsp;around,&nbsp;Thomas&nbsp;stepped&nbsp;out&nbsp;of&nbsp;her&nbsp;room&nbsp;and&nbsp;she&nbsp;was&nbsp;holding&nbsp;my&nbsp;hand&nbsp;and&nbsp;asked&nbsp;me,&nbsp;“do&nbsp;you&nbsp;think&nbsp;you&nbsp;two&nbsp;will&nbsp;get&nbsp;married”?&nbsp;I&nbsp;said,&nbsp;"I&nbsp;sure&nbsp;hope&nbsp;so”&nbsp;and&nbsp;she&nbsp;responded&nbsp;with,&nbsp;“I&nbsp;do&nbsp;too”.&nbsp;I&nbsp;told&nbsp;her&nbsp;that&nbsp;if&nbsp;we&nbsp;do,&nbsp;I&nbsp;promise&nbsp;I’ll&nbsp;take&nbsp;good&nbsp;care&nbsp;of&nbsp;him.&nbsp;She&nbsp;said,&nbsp;"I&nbsp;know&nbsp;you&nbsp;will”.&nbsp;Those&nbsp;words&nbsp;were&nbsp;pretty&nbsp;much&nbsp;the&nbsp;last&nbsp;words&nbsp;she&nbsp;spoke&nbsp;to&nbsp;us,&nbsp;other&nbsp;than&nbsp;trying&nbsp;to&nbsp;sing&nbsp;her&nbsp;favorite&nbsp;song&nbsp;with&nbsp;Thomas&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;before&nbsp;God&nbsp;called&nbsp;her&nbsp;home.&nbsp;&nbsp;Home,&nbsp;to&nbsp;be&nbsp;with&nbsp;her&nbsp;husband,&nbsp;who&nbsp;I&nbsp;never&nbsp;got&nbsp;the&nbsp;chance&nbsp;to&nbsp;meet,&nbsp;but&nbsp;one&nbsp;day&nbsp;I&nbsp;will.&nbsp;&nbsp;I'm&nbsp;forever&nbsp;grateful&nbsp;that&nbsp;I&nbsp;had&nbsp;the&nbsp;opportunity&nbsp;to&nbsp;meet&nbsp;this&nbsp;amazing&nbsp;woman&nbsp;who&nbsp;raised&nbsp;an&nbsp;amazing&nbsp;man!! The&nbsp;engagement:&nbsp;Let’s&nbsp;just&nbsp;say,&nbsp;he’s&nbsp;not&nbsp;good&nbsp;at&nbsp;keeping&nbsp;secrets&nbsp;or&nbsp;surprises.&nbsp;February&nbsp;9,&nbsp;2023,&nbsp;we&nbsp;were&nbsp;planning&nbsp;to&nbsp;have&nbsp;dinner&nbsp;with&nbsp;our&nbsp;friends,&nbsp;Lance&nbsp;&&nbsp;Stacia!&nbsp;That&nbsp;morning,&nbsp;Thomas&nbsp;asked&nbsp;me&nbsp;how&nbsp;my&nbsp;nails&nbsp;looked.&nbsp;He&nbsp;asked&nbsp;when&nbsp;the&nbsp;last&nbsp;time&nbsp;was&nbsp;that&nbsp;I&nbsp;had&nbsp;them&nbsp;done&nbsp;and&nbsp;said&nbsp;we&nbsp;should&nbsp;have&nbsp;gotten&nbsp;your&nbsp;nails&nbsp;done.&nbsp;All&nbsp;at&nbsp;different&nbsp;times&nbsp;in&nbsp;different&nbsp;conversations.&nbsp;He&nbsp;threw&nbsp;a&nbsp;couple&nbsp;other&nbsp;things&nbsp;out&nbsp;there&nbsp;throughout&nbsp;the&nbsp;day&nbsp;but,&nbsp;after&nbsp;all&nbsp;of&nbsp;them,&nbsp;he&nbsp;then&nbsp;tells&nbsp;me&nbsp;that&nbsp;Ean&nbsp;is&nbsp;going&nbsp;to&nbsp;come&nbsp;there&nbsp;and&nbsp;eat&nbsp;too,&nbsp;and&nbsp;that&nbsp;he’s&nbsp;going&nbsp;to&nbsp;stop&nbsp;by&nbsp;our&nbsp;table&nbsp;for&nbsp;a&nbsp;bit.&nbsp;I&nbsp;did&nbsp;say&nbsp;to&nbsp;just&nbsp;have&nbsp;him&nbsp;eat&nbsp;with&nbsp;us,&nbsp;but&nbsp;he&nbsp;said&nbsp;no,&nbsp;he&nbsp;just&nbsp;wants&nbsp;to&nbsp;stop&nbsp;and&nbsp;say&nbsp;hi.&nbsp;&nbsp; As&nbsp;we&nbsp;were&nbsp;sitting&nbsp;there,&nbsp;Thomas&nbsp;was&nbsp;all&nbsp;fidgety&nbsp;and&nbsp;nervous,&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;asked&nbsp;if&nbsp;he&nbsp;was&nbsp;okay.&nbsp;At&nbsp;first,&nbsp;he&nbsp;said&nbsp;yes,&nbsp;but&nbsp;once&nbsp;Ean&nbsp;showed&nbsp;up,&nbsp;it&nbsp;got&nbsp;really&nbsp;bad.&nbsp;He&nbsp;then&nbsp;asked&nbsp;if&nbsp;he&nbsp;could&nbsp;talk&nbsp;to&nbsp;me&nbsp;outside&nbsp;for&nbsp;a&nbsp;minute&nbsp;and&nbsp;so&nbsp;we&nbsp;stood&nbsp;up&nbsp;to&nbsp;“go&nbsp;outside”&nbsp;and&nbsp;as&nbsp;we&nbsp;were&nbsp;walking&nbsp;away,&nbsp;he&nbsp;turned&nbsp;around&nbsp;and&nbsp;got&nbsp;down&nbsp;on&nbsp;one&nbsp;knee&nbsp;...&nbsp;.and&nbsp;then&nbsp;it&nbsp;happened!&nbsp;Out&nbsp;comes&nbsp;this&nbsp;beautiful&nbsp;diamond&nbsp;ring,&nbsp;and&nbsp;he&nbsp;asks&nbsp;me&nbsp;if&nbsp;I&nbsp;would&nbsp;spend&nbsp;the&nbsp;rest&nbsp;of&nbsp;my&nbsp;life&nbsp;with&nbsp;him.&nbsp;Of&nbsp;course&nbsp;I&nbsp;said&nbsp;YES!&nbsp;The&nbsp;entire&nbsp;place&nbsp;erupted&nbsp;in&nbsp;cheers!!&nbsp;Everyone&nbsp;knew&nbsp;but&nbsp;me.&nbsp;However,&nbsp;I&nbsp;had&nbsp;a&nbsp;hunch!!&nbsp;There&nbsp;were&nbsp;too&nbsp;many&nbsp;hints&nbsp;throughout&nbsp;the&nbsp;day,&nbsp;Thomas!&nbsp;Haha Now,&nbsp;as&nbsp;far&nbsp;as&nbsp;the&nbsp;date&nbsp;we&nbsp;chose,&nbsp;September&nbsp;13,&nbsp;2025.&nbsp;We&nbsp;learned&nbsp;throughout&nbsp;the&nbsp;time&nbsp;we&nbsp;had&nbsp;been&nbsp;together&nbsp;that&nbsp;13&nbsp;was&nbsp;a&nbsp;favorite&nbsp;number&nbsp;of&nbsp;both&nbsp;of&nbsp;ours.&nbsp;We&nbsp;met&nbsp;in&nbsp;September,&nbsp;but&nbsp;to&nbsp;get&nbsp;married&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;date&nbsp;we&nbsp;met,&nbsp;we&nbsp;would&nbsp;have&nbsp;to&nbsp;wait&nbsp;4&nbsp;years&nbsp;to&nbsp;have&nbsp;that&nbsp;date&nbsp;come&nbsp;up&nbsp;on&nbsp;a&nbsp;Saturday.&nbsp;So,&nbsp;we&nbsp;chose&nbsp;September&nbsp;13,&nbsp;2025.&nbsp; Thomas&nbsp;and&nbsp;I&nbsp;have&nbsp;built&nbsp;a&nbsp;strong&nbsp;foundation!&nbsp;It&nbsp;started&nbsp;with&nbsp;God&nbsp;and&nbsp;continues&nbsp;with&nbsp;Him.&nbsp;We&nbsp;don't&nbsp;argue,&nbsp;and&nbsp;we&nbsp;don't&nbsp;fight....never&nbsp;once&nbsp;have&nbsp;we!&nbsp;If&nbsp;we&nbsp;don't&nbsp;agree&nbsp;on&nbsp;something,&nbsp;we&nbsp;talk&nbsp;it&nbsp;through.&nbsp;We&nbsp;compromise,&nbsp;we&nbsp;trust&nbsp;with&nbsp;our&nbsp;whole&nbsp;hearts,&nbsp;and,&nbsp;most&nbsp;importantly,&nbsp;we&nbsp;communicate!&nbsp;&nbsp; We&nbsp;can&nbsp;not&nbsp;wait&nbsp;to&nbsp;celebrate&nbsp;our&nbsp;special&nbsp;day&nbsp;with&nbsp;each&nbsp;and&nbsp;every&nbsp;one&nbsp;of&nbsp;you..&nbsp;Sometimes,&nbsp;we&nbsp;have&nbsp;to&nbsp;make&nbsp;choices&nbsp;that&nbsp;aren’t&nbsp;always&nbsp;easy,&nbsp;especially&nbsp;when&nbsp;we&nbsp;have&nbsp;so&nbsp;many&nbsp;special&nbsp;people&nbsp;in&nbsp;our&nbsp;lives.&nbsp;So,&nbsp;whether&nbsp;you’re&nbsp;invited&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;wedding&nbsp;ceremony&nbsp;or&nbsp;the&nbsp;reception,&nbsp;you&nbsp;all&nbsp;hold&nbsp;a&nbsp;special&nbsp;place&nbsp;in&nbsp;our&nbsp;hearts,&nbsp;and&nbsp;we&nbsp;wouldn’t&nbsp;be&nbsp;able&nbsp;to&nbsp;celebrate&nbsp;our&nbsp;day&nbsp;without&nbsp;you!!!

The Beginning of Our Story

Our Story

Photos

Joseph Lyons

Granddaughter, daughter of Josh & Lizzy Lyons

Paisley Lyons

Kristin Berglin

Andy Teigen

Paige Elbert

Ean Thomsen

Miranda Augustin

John Lyons

Stacia Jeppson

Colton Thomsen

Karen Wilmott

Josh Lyons

McKenzie Elbert

Gavin Thomsen

Lisa Elbert

Lance Jeppson

Justin Cunningham

Wedding Party

Q + A

<a href="https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1740685525396&amp;key=GRP&amp;guestreslink2=true&amp;app=resvlink" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Book your group rate for Lyons-Thomsen Wedding</a> You must book by August 12, 2025 to get the group rate.

Fairfield Inn & Suites Mankato

Travel

Things to Do

Registry

Jessica & Thomas