Joanna and Stephen met during freshman year of college in November 2019 on a blind date! Slightly after meeting, they slowly started getting to know each other over the next couple of months. They would borrow friend's cars and get McDonalds together and talk for hours, or do homework together on campus!

After hanging out and dodging the question of whether they liked each other for months, on March 7th, 2020, Stephen took Joanna on their first official date! They ran around Minneapolis, walked Stone Arch Bridge, got FiveGuys burgers, and went to a concert at Target Center where they danced like fools in the nosebleeds. That night, Stephen asked Joanna to officially be his girlfriend. Of course, she said yes!

6 days later, on Friday, March 13th, 2020, they found out that COVID-19 was shutting down their college for 2 weeks. Stephen flew home to Atlanta, GA and Joanna went home to Apple Valley, MN thinking it would only be 2 weeks apart. Then, Bethel announced that we would not be coming back on campus for the rest of the semester, and everyone had to move out of their dorms until the fall. This was very disheartening for Joanna and Stephen since they had just started dating. They decided to do long distance (1,000+ miles). During those 3 months, Stephen led them in their relationship with the Lord by facetiming each morning to read the Bible together! This immensely strengthened their relationship with each other and God.

When Stephen moved up to Minnesota that fall, their relationship grew even more as they could hang out with each other's friends, Joanna's family, and each other in person! Even though the long distance was strange and difficult, they would not trade all that time invested in getting to know each other in special circumstances.

They continued to date throughout college. It was a blessing that they both had great friend groups and could all hang out together! Joanna loved going to Stephen's football games throughout college and supporting him and his friends on the team. They supported each other through the challenges that college and life brought in those years.

Once they were both graduated and working, they started to talk more seriously about their future. They went ring shopping, and completed pre-marital counseling through their church! It was an easy yes from Joanna when Stephen asked her to marry him on March 2nd, 2024!

As the thoughtful man Stephen is, he picked the most beautiful ring for Joanna, planned the perfect day up north, dinner with Joanna's family, and a surprise engagement party for them later that evening with all of Joanna's closest friends! Like always, he exceeded her expectations and brought so much joy and love into their lives! Now, they will start their lives together as the Powells!

We are so grateful for your generosity! Your support and thoughtfulness mean the world to us.