About 5 days before I got a C on my Calculus 1 final exam, I met my wife.

It was one of the reading days before the final exams that would cap off my freshman year. I sat down at a table with a new friend from my Young Life team in the library to brighten up my study breaks. Katie Zaza was there studying for her organic chemistry final.

In between flash cards and derivatives, we shared some glances and discussed our study music of choice, we followed each other on Spotify, and that was that.

I didn’t think of her all summer, but when I found myself on the outs during the first Chi Omega date party of my sophomore year, I recruited the help of Landry Walker (Edwards) to help find me a suitable date. I wasn’t keen on the first half dozen options she floated, but when she said Katie Zaza, I knew I could settle for nothing less.

And so, the evening was set, Katie and I would tag along with Cooper and Landry to the Chi Omega disco date party. We got Sonic before our night was filled with karaoke. When the night was over, Katie gave me a pat on the shoulder and thanked me for coming with her. It was the most fun we ever had at any of those date parties, I’m sure of it.

It took a week and some intermittent texting about Nothing Bundt Cakes for her roommates before I asked her to get coffee with me on a wonderful Saturday morning. Spending time with Katie in a quiet coffee shop was much more my speed, and I came to find that I love spending time with her in quiet coffee shops more than most places. I don’t remember much about our conversation, except that it was easy.

What wasn’t easy was convincing her to be my girlfriend. From that wonderful Saturday morning, it took about 6 weeks of yeses and nos. It took two first dates, two weeks of her attempt at just being friends, a handful of run-ins around campus, Songfest, and meeting her family before it was all said and done. And honestly, I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

As we look ahead to marriage, we reflect on our two years of dating. It is by far the most sanctifying tool that Jesus has used in my life. I have had to make more apologies to Katie than any other friend in my life, and she has pointed me towards Jesus more than any other. I would ask that as you say your prayers; please pray that this remains true for our marriage. That we would become more like Christ through the way that we love each other, and that we would remain committed to Jesus and his gospel through it all.

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ…

Ephesians 3:17-18

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.

Colossians 4:2-4

K&J

Wedding Day

Reception