Hello family and friends! I didn't have a lot of photos during this time of our story, because I was just plugged in with a youth group where I met Hannah. For context, I was working, hanging out with my ex-roommates (all IN my wedding lol), and getting to know Hannah as a friend, but this is me then, and let's look at us over the years.

Our first ever hang-out in a smaller group. We spent a lot of time talking when I was clueless about her wanting to invite me to her farewell dinner with her friend later.

I sent her a photo of my haircut to tease her while having Thanksgiving with my American family. We had been texting quite often, and I had a pretty unusual large amount of texts with her instead of my annual Thanksgiving Netflix binging.

We are getting back from our Christmas lighting trip late night with our church friends. We stopped at a gas station, goofing around and just happened to be next to each other. It was still *tense* after my Thanksgiving talk with her so..I closed my eyes and hoped for the best as we got closer to each other.

I talked to both my American families a lot about if and how I should approach Hannah biblically and respectfully as I was pretty excited for the upcoming New Year church retreat where I get to spend time with her more. And yes, the photo is my flex to her that I am a somewhat capable man for making my family cutting boards (thanks Samir 🙂).

New Year's Eve! And yes, my first sneaky peak of her during our church retreat. Per my family suggestion, I wanted to see how we would interact within a large group, but we pretty much got no screen time 😐.

First photo of me taken by her. I felt some butterflies in my stomach knowing she's focusing on me behind that camera lens. Thanks Caleb (the boy in the photograph) for letting me hide my shyness.

The first official photo of her that I took without having to be sneaky.

First time holding hands!!! And yes, we started dating haha, but it won't be featured in here. Maybe Hannah will tell a better story over on her side (I'm excited to see her story too).

We finally felt comfortable with our relationship that we wanted to let our friends and families know, and yes they already knew, so we got smacked in our faces with lots of love and presents (Thanks chi Ty and anh Bi 🙂).

Our #Insta-official picture after we felt 100% all in!

First time experiencing a long-distance relationship and picking her up from the airport. It was a great feeling of light and happiness filling and growing in me having her in my embrace. Although, I should have gotten her flowers too...

So I did get her roses a couple weeks later! We dressed up and forgot to thaw our steaks in her apartment for our first Valentine's dinner together.

Our first fancy dinner with another couple! I actually planned this after our first week of dating and invited anh Cuong and chi Thao to express our gratitude to them for supporting and nudging us to date each other 🙂.

We started hanging out more with our friends as a couple and not just single dates anymore. Yay for extrovert me!

First serious financial decision together 😐. It has been rocky still, but God has blessed us with assurance and each other.

Celebrating her birthday for the first time! Another fine dining place but a bit too loud and too salty seasoning, but contact me if you want a good photo for your lady. I did appreciate her clearing the whole night to spend time with me.

Attending weddings together during our first year, and she got to see my extended family a lot and she handled it quite well. 9.5/10. 11/10 if she could handle Missy and Zoey better (Hannah has irrational fear of animals) .

My first trip seeing her full family. I was nervous seeing her father and brother, but felt immediately relieved after seeing her fighting for their love back from me.

Our camping trip with our church group after I have met her family. I feel more comfortable now than just being her boyfriend.

Our first Fall trip. It was quite hard trying to get a market share from the rest of the Instagram influencers, but this photo was pretty...

The first wedding that we were in as a couple. We were honored to support as groomsman and bridesmaid and to look up to our seniors in class glorifying God's union.

Downtown visit before seeing my family for Thanksgiving.

Christmas decorating with the Thompson after Thanksgiving.

Christmas decorating with the Thompson after Thanksgiving.

Attending Christmas Eve service with her family.

Our first Christmas with her family, and sorry Hannah, my finger are crossing to manifest this foreshadowing picture.

Our continuing celebration of Christmas with her family at her sister's estate.

I planned for months for this. I told her we'd go to Rhode Island after the church retreat to celebrate my 25th birthday. I booked an ocean-view suite and while we were touring the property, there were flower pedals leading her to the dining spot with a big bouquet. I kneeled and asked for her hand and the rest is history.