Michael and Michaela first met when Michael was new to Lincoln and new to the Alpha Omega Bible study group. He came to AO on January 12th, 2023, and he first laid eyes on his future bride up on stage singing. It would take some time for their friendship to blossom, but their paths toward one another had begun.

A few months later, in June of 2023, Michael was spending some time repainting an outdoor railing at the Alpha Omega house and Michaela offered to help him saying, “I’ve got nothing better to do!”. Little did they both know this interaction would turn into a 4-hour conversation while they worked, and it would begin their interest in learning more about each other.

Over the next few weeks, they would each get to meet one another’s family, and this would only grow their interest in each other. As this interest grew Michael realized he had a dinner planned with Michaela’s father, Jeff, to talk about ministry and Bible teaching and Michael saw this as an opportunity to express his interest in Michaela. Michael anxiously expressed his interest in Michaela and asked for Jeff’s permission to date her, to which Jeff graciously obliged. After their dinner, Michael and Jeff raced to their house where Michaela was anxiously waiting, hoping for Michael to make his move. On July 24th, 2023, Michael asked Michaela to be his girlfriend and thus began the official chapter of M&M.

The next several months were full of laughter, love, and memories. Michael and Michaela diligently celebrated every month that they were together and grew in their understanding and love for one another. On February 9th, 2024, Michael took Michaela to their first dinner date location and pretended to get lost on the way home. They ended up at Sunken Gardens Park in Lincoln where family and friends had set up a TV, lights and rose petals. There, a video was played consisting of all the pictures Michael and Michaela had taken while dating and it was all put to music. After the video played Michael dropped to one knee and asked Michaela to marry him, to which she happily agreed.