Our story can be summed up by the Lords faithfulness to us. He has allowed for just under a century of coincidences, gifting us a sweet love story larger than ourselves. After reading this, you might think, It would have been crazy if you DIDN'T get married! Aannnddd, we agree... and we are just so grateful to be celebrating with you. I hope you enjoy the novel below, because it truly is one of our favorite stories!

Lets rewind way on back to 1947: Don W. Rader came back from fighting in World War II and became president of FarmHouse Fraternity at Oklahoma State. He met his wife, Esther Gerard, in the OSU marching band, and, after graduating, settled in Shattuck, OK. A few years later, The Rader Family moved across the state line near Canadian, Texas, where they raised their 6 Rader children. At this time, a mere 50 miles away, Michele Washmon and Tom Fanning (while attending Fort Supply High School) met; Tom was a few years older (scandalous!) than Michele, but they managed to stay in contact, and in a few years, Michele joined Tom at OSU. At the same time, Betsy Rader, the youngest of the 6, followed in the footsteps of her parents, aunts, uncles, and siblings, and attended OSU. Betsy was raised an avid FarmHouse fan (Don was the unofficial official FarmHouse recruiter for the Panhandle of Texas and Oklahoma... so it came as no surprise!) so it was an easy choice to enter into the Little Sis program. Low and behold, Betsy was paired with a new FarmHouse Pledge, Tom Fanning. Betsy and Tom became friends, Tom and Michele started dating, and Betsy met her future hubby, Tim, her junior year. Tom, Betsy, and Tim all graduated, Michele continued at OSU, all moved on, and lost touch.

Okay: checking in... I know we've gone a lot of places, but hang with me! We're just getting started!

A few years go by and Tim and Bets open a convenience store called Alexanders in Canadian, Texas, they had 3 kids, and stayed very busy. Similarly, Tom and Michele got married, and after living in Germany for his Army deployment, came back, had 3 kids, and settled in Canyon, Texas. As time went on, many people visited Alexanders, but one specific out of towner, David Washmon, became a regular. He worked for an oil company, and always wore an OSU hat when he came in the store. Tim and David talked shop about the Cowboys and would throw up a Go Pokes every time he came in. One sunny Saturday, Tim and Betsy were walking into an OSU game and happened to run into David Washmon! Turns out, his daughter, Michele (Washmon) Fanning, is married to Tom Fanning. What are the odds! Betsy hadnt thought of that name in a long time... Such a small world we live in they thought, however, that world would be getting a lot smaller in the coming years!

Time out... I know, right?? It is pretty wild to think how interweaved our stories are.. honestly, its like someone set us up or something. Okay, lets jump back in!

Lets fast forward a few years: The Alexander and Fanning kids grow up in their respective homes: The Alexanders in Canadian and the Fannings relocated to Laverne, OK. It nears time for high school graduation for the older kids, and one hot August Bid Day, Annie Alexander (Tim and Betsys middle daughter) ran home to Kappa Delta sorority. As Tim, Betsy, Annie, and Emily were walking into KD, Betsy recognized a familiar face. Tom Fanning, what are you doing here? Tom replies, standing with his family, My daughter, Emily Fanning, is a Sophomore Kappa Delta! Well by-golly... how fun! Annie and Emily became friends throughout college, when it came time for Emily Fanning to marry her college sweetheart, Logan Shuping, Annie was asked to play the violin at the wedding. The Alexander Family was invited, happily attended this exciting event for the Fanning family. Youll see a photo below, a picture from Emily and Logans wedding, documenting the first time that Emily and Lane officially met. Somehow, Emily started hanging out with a few Laverne girls and ended up in a photo-booth with the brides brother. Little did they know....

Lane went off to Oklahoma State, joined FarmHouse Fraternity, and began his college career. Emily started her senior year of high school, and started thinking of where her future home would be. As the Mcknight Scholarship application opened, Emily asked Tom Fanning to write her a letter or recommendation. When she got the scholarship, Tom and Michele came on down to Canadian, watched the LadyCats whoop up on the Spearman Lynxettes, and came over to dinner to celebrate. *This information was contributed after Emily and Lane started dating, but apparently, Michele had thought that this dinner would be a great opportunity for Lane and Emily to meet! She went ahead and texted Lane, Were going to Canadian to watch Emily Alexander play basketball... do you want to come with us? Lane responded with a prompt No.. I guess something about watching a girls high school basketball game didnt sound like a fun way to spend his Friday night... rude!* The next day, Emily and Caroline Cook, drove over to Stillwater for the PLC Conclave Retreat, a leadership retreat for incoming students. When they arrive, Emily looks up and sees a familiar face... Lane Fanning, holding an arrow, pointing in the opposite direction! She leans out the window, Hey! Dont I know you?, and he responds with, Youre going down the wrong way! This is a one way! Whoops! Oh well, her and Caroline turned around and eventually found their way into the conference! *Sidebar - Lane can never say that he didnt know what he was getting himself into!* Both Emily and Lane finish their school years out without a hitch, not contacting one another or keeping in touch. Their older sisters and their friends, however, did in fact keep in touch. Specifically, Emily Fanning Shuping and her mom Michele!

As August rolled around, Emily moved into her dorm at Oklahoma State and started recruitment. Following in her sisters footsteps, she ran home to Kappa Delta on Bid Day and was absolutely thrilled to share the sisterhood with her Annie. Sharing in her excitement, Michele Fanning invited all of the Alexanders and Annies old KD friends over to celebrate Emily going Kappa Delta. Per usual, Emily came in hot to the party, decked out in her KD gear, and a quiet Lane observed the chaos from a distance. Emily Shuping and Micheles plan was working... IT WAS WORKING! Lane started out on the other side of the porch, and by the end of the night, was sitting next to Emily at the table. Michele and Emily had hope, Lane and Emily had no idea what was happening, and Tim was getting tested in the other room for hearing aids... wait... did we need that information? Yes, yes we did!

The next few weeks were pretty quiet, Lane started his sophomore year and Emily started to get the hang of college. As the first football game rolled around, Emily and her roommate Taber, started to make plans for the tailgating schedule! Lacking experience, Emily recalled that Michele Fanning had invited her to attend the FarmHouse tailgate! Ah! Perfect. So, as the time came, they moseyed their way to the tailgate and Emily saw Lane! They started talking, joking around a bit, and then Emily offered up her Snapchat, what couId it hurt?? He happily (I might add) took it, she left, and they went about their ways. The next week, Lane and Emily had been texting back and forth, and it was going great. Emily wasnt doing anything one evening, and thought, what could it hurt! Her roommate at the time was doing something for her sorority, so she texted Lane and asked if he was free. He was, so she made her way to FarmHouse to pick him up! This would be the first of many times that Emily would be over at FH! As it turned out, Lane was the most fun person that Emily had met, and Emily was absolutely perfect in every way (his words not mine.. I swear!) After 6 hours of singing their favorite songs, cartwheeling in the rain (romantic!) and driving around the whole city of Stillwater at least 5 times, Emily came back from hanging out with Lane and told Taber, Im going to marry him.

*GASP* I know! SO SWEET. UGH! From this moment began the portion of Emily and Lanes story together. The next 5 years were full of travel, celebrating, learning how to grow with one another, but ultimately, the Lord. In His kindness, he has continued to work and reveal himself to both Emily and Lane. We are here today due to the incomparable gift that the Lord gave us in Jesus Christ: salvation. His great mercy, grace, and love has given Lane and Emily the strength to continue to choose one another amidst the changing of seasons and trials.

And.... SCENE! WOW. Thank you hanging with us! I mean, you just went though our whole genealogy and then some, so Bravo to you! I hope that after reading, you are as amazed as we are of how KIND the Lord is. He has brought us here, together, and we CANNOT wait to celebrate ALL that He has done with you! One last thing... when I was 11 years old, my Pops (Don Rader) told me, When you go to OSU, you go to FarmHouse and you get you a husband! and thats exactly what I did! I can say with confidence that wed have his blessing. <3

XOXO,

The Future Fannings

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