Marianne grew up in a local home school community near Brentwood California. Her family moved to Antioch, and then Byron when she turned 14 years of age. Jonathans family originally lived in Colorado, until he was about 8 years old, and they moved out to Antioch, California.

They both had attended the same Community Bible Study hosted at Golden Hills Community Church (Though not directly associated), but never in the same class. Jonathan is a (whopping) 4 1/2 years younger than Marianne, and attended the same high school class as her younger sister, Theresa, while Marianne was in the college aged group until she was 19, so they never met (Though likely had crossed paths, which they laugh about now.).

Marianne had been attending Kairos since the age of about 19, and during COVID (Around 3 or 4 years later) Jonathan, at the age of 19 started to visit on occasion. Their paths crossed often, and occasionally exchanged a few words in conversation, but were nothing more than friendly acquaintances for a year.

Jonathan was getting more involved in setting up and being a part of Kairos leadership around a year later, when they moved the event to another room in the building, and they served in close proximity for the next few years.

Marianne would often show up early enough to help setup for the night because of her work schedule (just down the street off Lone Tree Way at the Brentwood In-N-Out Burger), and they reciprocated playful banter throughout the process. Sometimes when Marianne was on slides, Jonathan would come to sit beside her during the service in the back of the room; which she never thought much about at the time, up until she started to recognize more patterns of some interest surfacing.

She started dating someone else in the Summer of 2023, which seemed to be closing the door on that idea- but that relationship ended 4 months later. They began talking more after Kairos again, and the interest became more apparent to them both on separate ends. But, Marianne had heard rumors he thought they werent compatible for whatever reason, so she closed that idea in her own mind and simply enjoyed the friendship, even though she was perplexed and often felt he was interested; but she appreciated him and trusted him, and they shared things about their lives and thoughts.

During June, there were Summer events happening like ice cream, swimming and games with the Kairos ministry.

Marianne was interested in joining the COC (Community Outreach Center) bowling event, which she knew Jonathan would be at, and was a main factor in her going, for some random reason. She was volunteering taking photos, and being flirty with Jonathan, and a lady named Tori beckoned her over and asked if they were dating. Marianne said Oh, no, were really good friends though.

But this put the idea in her head, and she started to consider the possibility again.

One Sunday, in early July, Kairos leadership was meeting to have their monthly get together to discuss events and ideas about the ministry. Jonathan and Marianne sometimes were beside each other, and ended up having conversations. They both really enjoyed conversing with one another, and on this particular day they walked out together, just like they normally would end up talking, and walked to their cars on the other side of the parking lot.
Jonathan had not intended to park nearby, but apparently God had orchestrated some things, because he also had not intended to say anything to Marianne this day. But as they were about to leave, he was answering a work call, and asked her to wait a moment before she left.
Marianne could sense the air change, and her heart beat a little faster as he said I think we really get along well, and I was wondering if you felt the same, and if you would like to go out some time? to which she answered Yeah, sure.

And going from officially dating on July 17th, to less than 5 months to engagement on December 1st, and soon to be husband and wife in 2025, Marianne and Jonathan could not be happier with how one little inquiry had changed their relationship for the rest of their lives, for Gods glory, and how amazing and perfect His timing is in all aspects of life.