Calli and I met at CrossFit Reignited in January, 2021. She was in NC as a travel nurse from Ohio and I simply wanted a change of scenery from Nashville. Brooks lived here, so why not move to the beach? Our friendship naturally took off after that and we remained steadfast friends until some time during the summer of 2023 when the heat got turned UP.

Prior to dating, we were able to share many of life's great ups and downs as well as the ordinary and mundane while close friends. This included Rosie's death, CrossFit Games trips, friend group trips to the Robinson Family cabin, countless beach days, deep conversations, bike rides, partner workouts, wisdom teeth removal, Calli buying her first house, who knows how many shared meals, and many more memories.

Father Mike Schmitz says there is no difference between love and what or who you give your attention to. By that definition, Calli and I have been in love for much longer than what is indicated by our dating timeline.

We started officially dating December 2023 and got engaged on January 17, 2025. I hate cliche phrases, but that darn phrase about "marry your best friend" has suddenly come to fruition in both of our lives, and we are extremely grateful to God for that gift.

We are both well acquainted with the realities of life, and are aware that while our best days are ahead of us, so too are some of the worst days of our lives. It is with a joyful spirit we undertake "The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1601). As we embark on a shared life after marriage, we keep in mind this image from Revelation 7: 13-17 -

"Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?” I said to him, “Sir, you are the one that knows.” Then he said to me, “These are they who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. For this reason they are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his temple, and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them. They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

As we stand shoulder to shoulder, we keep in mind always that which we stand facing together. The Crucifix. The means by which our Lord purchased for us Eternal Life. We look forward to helping each other remain holy and in the Lord's grace so that we can accomplish the primary purpose of marriage - get each other to Heaven! So, that when our life on this earth is finally over we may say with Saint John Henry Newman: "May the Lord support us all the day long, Till the shades lengthen and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then in his mercy may he give us a safe lodging, and holy rest, and peace at the last. Amen"

Q + A

Q + A coming soon!