Any Aggie would be pleased to know that our story began at the War Hymn monument just outside Kyle Field in College Station, Texas on September 30, 2020. It was the “reveal night” for a leadership organization that we had both joined our freshman year at Texas A&M. Interaction was different in a post-pandemic world with masks and social distancing, but as we walked around campus that night I realized I already had a big crush on the girl I would come to spend the rest of my life with. Over the next few months, we kept in touch and got to know each other a bit better after meeting up for dinner a few times. I admired Anna’s dedication as well as the importance of family in her life, and at this point I had built up enough confidence to ask her out. With Valentines Day around the corner, I prepared a hand-written card with chocolates to ask her on a spontaneous and adventurous first date. While I was cautiously optimistic upon leaving my dorm, I returned that night with no Valentines date.


Looking back, it’s easy to see how God closes the door on certain things in life to set us up for something greater. While it was a tough pill to swallow, Anna wasn’t looking to be in a relationship at the time. We remained distant friends and lived completely separate lives over the next eight months until we reconnected over Bob Goff’s “Love Does”, a book we were both coincidentally reading that articulates the many attributes and actions of Christlike love. Anna suggested that we “catch up” over some smoothie bowls in College Station, and I reluctantly agreed. I’ll never forget that conversation as we both talked about how God had been working in our lives over the past seasons and that we both desired a Christ-Centered relationship and marriage one day. It didn’t take long before Anna invited me to a sorority event which was followed by a spontaneous trip out to Lake Bryan to watch the stars, slow dance, and have another deep conversation. Within the next few weeks, I asked her on a first date (she said yes this time), we met each others parents, and started dating on December 28th, 2021.


I could spend hours recounting the many joys and countless adventures of the next two and a half years. We went skiing, traveled with friends, danced at weddings, tried lots of new food, painted the sunset, ice skated, spent time with family, and celebrated the Fourth of July at the lake to name a few. Keeping school a priority became challenging when conversations went on well past midnight, but to be honest I wouldn’t trade it for a thing. Time with Anna was incredibly intentional and we strived to always grow more in our faith, prioritize family, and find ways to serve each other better. All of this joy, laughter, struggle, and faithfulness made it abundantly clear that Anna was the person I wanted to spend the rest of my life with!


If you know Anna, you would know that it’s no easy task to surprise her. Anna tends to ask a lot of questions, especially when she knows something is going on! Thus, it was of utmost importance that my “December proposal” remained top secret. We shopped for engagement rings in August before Anna went back to College Station for her final semester and I picked out the ring soon after. Hoping to make the proposal a surprise, I arranged for my boss to send out a staged work dinner email to which Anna was invited in Dallas on September 27th, 2024 - almost four years after we first met. As the day approached, the nerves started to set in as I hoped that the many moving pieces would all come together without Anna knowing. On the evening of the 27th, I picked Anna up for the “work dinner”, in which we went to a nearby park where the flowers and the ring were set up. A few minutes later, “Will you marry me” was met by many joyful tears and a resounding YES that made me the luckiest man in the world!

We are so excited to become the vonBehrens on June 20th!!