Back in November, I was asked by some friends of mine in the Portland area to accompany them to a yearly autumn house party called "Cider and Cigars." While I didn't officially meet Hannah that night, I met her roommates...because Cider and Cigars happened to be hosted by her house.

I seemed to make a good impression on their house because I was asked to join "The S'mores House" for dinner at a grand opening for a new hotel that was opening up on the Eastside of town. Shortly after we arrive, the most beautiful blonde hair, blue eyed girl wearing ripped jeans and a black top comes prancing in and sits down right next to me. The entire night I felt like we are completely hitting it off. After that evening, I went home to my roommates and proclaimed "boys, I think I just met my wife tonight at the restaurant." If you don't know me, I am known to be a tad dramatic, BUT none of them believed me; however, they did say that I should continue to pursue it.

After hanging out in a group setting several more times over the course of a month and a half, I finally had the courage to ask her out...over text...when I was 700 miles away in Canada.

She very politely declined because she didn't want to do anything that would hinder the course of our entire friend group.

I tried asking her out again a week or so later and she gave me other reasons for why she didn't think it would work out.

The entire time she was telling me these things, I really kept feeling the Holy Spirit tugging at my heart to keep pursuing Hannah.

After both her and I got back from Hawaii (we went at the same time but on different islands and different people) she finally agreed to go on a date with me, and let me tell you: that was the best first date of our entire lives. Did I mention I was a tad dramatic?

We started at a putt putt bar, and I don't remember who won...but that isn't important to the story. After putt putt, I had my house set up for a date night where we would get to cook dinner together.

We made very undercooked steak and my world famous mashed potatoes. My sister told me that I needed to incorporate a vegetable (which I thought I had already done with the potatoes) so I went to the store right before our date and bought a pre-made salad.

The rest is pretty much history! We only got to go on about 2 or 3 dates before COVID-19 shutdown everything. And I don't want to say COVID helped our relationship, but it did create a space where Hannah and I got to just be together with no distractions. Most of our dating life has consisted of:

Going on walks through the neighborhoods...

Spontaneous trips to the beach...

And lots of fun drinks!

We've even thrown in more spa days than I'd feel comfortable admitting...

Through it all, Hannah Elizabeth has taught me how to love harder, think deeper, and pursue Jesus with everything. I cannot wait for what the future holds!

So let me first start off by saying that the party that Paul mentioned, "Cidar and Cigars" was in October. I remember passing Paul at the party that night but we didn't officially meet that night. It wasn't until November/ December that we actually met each other and started our friendship. The first conversation I remember having with Paul was actually during Christmas when a group of us went to Peacock Lane to look at Christmas lights, I remember we managed to walk by each other the whole time. The whole time we were critiqing the architecture of the houses, making up our own terms and thinking we were so smart and hilarious (as we do). The whole time I was thinking, "Yes! A new bro!" And that was the day Paul entered the friend zone.

Pretty early on in our friendship Paul made his intentions known. I didn't give myself permission to view Paul as an option. I didn't want to mess up what we had. So I told him I just wanted to be friends. Then I talked about Paul to people who truly knew me, loved me, and had my best interest at heart, I was encouraged to get to know Paul more and to let him pursue me.

We had maybe 3 dates before COVID shut everything down.

Most of our time together was spent in the "in between" spaces of life. Taking walks, cooking together, reading, dealing with HARD things in life and relationships. It wasn't easy. But it was with all of those things as a back drop that I quickly realized that I could spend the rest of my life with this man. Who dealt with adversity, hardship, me and ever changing things in the world by leaning into and on Christ. I knew that I could and wanted to attach my life to this man, who was my best friend, confidant and partner.

I so grateful that we get to spend all of big important moments together Paul Micheal, but I'm so excited for all the sweet simple "in betweens".