We met briefly in 2021, Josiah knew that she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen, but Kenzie was in a different relationship at the time. We had some of the same friends but we didn't see each other much.

We went our separate ways but slowly saw our paths connect more and more as time went on. In April, 2022 Josiah joined the group that Kenzie would play volleyball with. So both of us were on the worship team at Church, part of the same connect group, and would play volleyball together. Josiah started working out and Mckenzie definitely noticed, we would hang out in groups 4-5 times a week. Kenzie ended up going to the High School Summer Camp to volunteer with our church, and Josiah was also going. We both liked being around each other, and that summer camp week, feelings started to develop for each other. Josiah noticed her lay next to him as he looked at the clouds and she also touched his forearm and sat next to him while he was at a table playing cards one night.

The day after we got back from Summer Camp, July 2nd, 2022, Kenzie got out of her relationship. The next day, July 3rd, a group of us hung out and I overheard her talk about being single and she saw my ears perk up, Josiah later found out she said that for him to hear. So Josiah swooped in, we hung out on the most magical 4th of July. She wanted to hang out with him and he was all for it, she even hopped in Josiah's beat up 2002 Acura TL, and she still liked him. They watched the fireworks that night with some friends and talked alone as they walked back. they talked about how he was planning on going to YWAM for 6 months and she had her sisters and parents leaving.

We began texting and talking, we both could tell we were liking each other. On July 21st we went on our first date, Josiah picked her up to go play volleyball, and then after we got smoothies and went to the beach, we hung out all day and had the most amazing time. We both pretty much knew we'd get married. We would spend all day together, at the beach, playing volleyball, getting acai or In N Out, and we would stay in the In N Out parking lot for hours on end. Josiah would drive Kenzie home and we would talk for hours, staying until 2-3am most nights. It was heaven to be with each other, and torture to be apart.

Fast forward to September and Josiah got it approved through his internship to date and they made their relationship official as boyfriend and girlfriend on September 8th. One week later on September 15th we were on a missions trip in Mexico and Josiah had to go in a different van for something but before he ran up to Mckenzie and whispered "I Love You" in her ear for the first time and ran off. He turned around and saw her mouth the words back to him, the most unreal sensation he had ever experienced. We finally said it, we could have said it after a week of dating honestly, but we couldn't hold it back anymore.

We wanted to get married already but Josiah still had not met Kenzie's parents. We had our first Halloween, and Thanksgiving together where Josiah met Grandpa Bill, Grandma Joan, and Kenzie met some of Josiah's family.

Then our first Christmas season together, we were 4 1/2 months strong where it was time to meet Kenzie's parents. Tom and Kim flew us out to Puerto Rico where Josiah got to meet Grandma Mom on the flight (they call their grandma mom) and then meet the parents finally, Tom greeted me with a camera and a light and a hug, and then Kim, Macyn and Madi. I got to meet them all and Grandma Dottie and Grandpa Jim. We had the best time in Puerto Rico, our first trip together, falling more and more in love. There her sisters came back from YWAM and Kenzie knew she was going to go to YWAM also.

We then spent our first Christmas together and exchanged gifts, the best Christmas hands down.

We Celebrated New Years together where we had our first New Years Kiss together ;).

Josiah was working 2 jobs trying to save up for an engagement ring, and we just wanted to be with each other all the time.

Come February, we celebrated our first Valentines Day

and Josiah asked her dad for Kenzie's hand. He said yes.

Josiah started planning the most epic proposal ever, with inspiration from Tangled and The Little Mermaid, and some help from friends Josiah pulled it off and rowed her on a canoe to a sign that asked the question, "Will you marry me?"

She said yes of course, and we were on Cloud 9, finally engaged.

We had determined before marriage that we need to do YWAM, and give God the next 6 months so we could focus on Him before we come together. So we were fundraising and God provided for both of us, even after Josiah spent all of his money on the ring for Kenzie.

So on April 6th we hopped on a plane to Kona, Hawaii to complete a Discipleship Training School. We did not know where we would go for outreach, but trusted God. Three weeks into our school our leaders told us that we were going on separate outreaches. Although it was emotional we knew it would be good for us. The time finally came on June 24th, 2023 to leave for outreach.

Kenzie was going to Gambia and Guinea Bissau in West Africa, Josiah was going to Papua New Guinea. The longest we had been apart since we started dating was 5 days when Kenzie went to Puerto Rico for her birthday.

We were always with each other, so as the van pulled up to take Kenzie away from me tears were shed, a lot of tears. We are each others best friends, no one we'd rather be with. So we embraced each other one last time and she was off to Africa, while Josiah left the next morning.

We are returning on September 8th to Hawaii where we will reunite, our 1 year anniversary, 22 days before we say "I do!" Then on that glorious 30th day of September, we will finally kiss and dance and spend the rest of our lives with each other. <3

M&J

Wedding Day

Reception