It was February 2020. The midwest winter bite was in full strength as I drove the Honda Element from my home in Indiana to Montgomery, Illinois. I was moving for a part-time church job and didn't have a place of my own yet, so a couple from the same church, Dale and Jillian Liff, let me move in with them for a few weeks until a second job and an apartment were secured.

A month later, COVID swept through the US and life came to a stand-still. Moving out now was nearly impossible, so Dale and Jillian generously kept their home open to me.

I often say that 2020 was one of the worst and best years of my life. COVID brought its challenges, but we made the most of it. Countless card games, running 5k's, walking Zuzu multiple times a day, eating every meal together on the deck, dozens of puzzles, praying and studying scripture and playing worship songs...Dale and Jillian quickly became my "Chicago parents".

During this time, their son George would travel from Ohio and stay with us while he worked on-site at his job in Plainfield, IL.

That's how we met :)

We built our friendship in Dale and Jillian's home during his visits over the next year, and continued to stay in touch after they moved back to Ohio for ministry work. George would still travel out to Illinois to work in his company's office, and made sure to hang out with our whole friend group every time. He would also ask me to join him for a lunch meet with just the two of us. I thought this was something he did with each of our friends, but I learned after we were dating that it was just me :)

In May of 2024, George was in Illinois for a regular work trip and we had our usual hang outs planned. The morning of our one-on-one lunch, he asked if I wanted to make it a real date. I said yes, and the rest is history.

There's so much left untold in this lil blurb...but God has been so faithful to me and George. We are stepping into our life together on a foundation of his perfect provision, sweetest grace and truest love.

Thanks for celebrating with us <3