Our Story
How we met
Katie's version
We met at Trinity Christian College in the Fall of 2006 through my roommates. I moved on campus several weeks into the school year and no one (my new roommates or their friends) was very excited about the intrusion. But they got over it, and I started to hang out with "the group"...including Eric. My first impression of him was that he was funny, but obnoxious and a big flirt. After just a few weeks of knowing him, I knew that there was something deeper than his Ricky Gervais impressions and his relentless mocking of most his peers.
But I was unavailable, and he was off to Oxford. He re-entered into my life and thoughts when I found myself single again and we started a short-lived email correspondence which opened my eyes to the depth of Eric's passion for learning and for the Lord. I was intrigued, but we were both busy living our own lives oceans apart.
In the summer of 2007, myself and my roommate along with Eric's roommate went out to California to visit Eric and attend another friend's wedding. It was clear to me after that visit that I was seriously interested in Eric. I came home from that trip in July telling my parents that Eric was the guy I would marry. After he asked if he could call sometime, I kept my phone near me at all times just in case he would. It was an agonizing time of waiting, because I had no idea if Eric was going to reciprocate my feelings.
But I had nothing to worry about. After we spent Labor Day at my family's house, and a camping trip the next weekend where we held hands for the first time and he took care of me through a migraine...he asked me out on an official date.
We spent 8 months 'dating' at school--studying together, listening to White Horse Inn, going on walks, suffering through the midwest winter, and growing closer.
After graduation in May, Eric moved back home to California, and onto more schooling in seminary, and I stayed in Chicago and began working.
5 months after graduation and just a few days after our 13 month anniversary, Eric made a surprise trip out to the Windy City to propose...
I am so incredibly blessed to have found such a godly man and spiritual leader(who is also from state with the best weather, and "the happiest place on earth"). He is my complement in every way. While I am not looking forward to the next 7 months apart, I know it will all be well worth it.
How We Met
(Uncut and Uncensored)
It was the Fall of 2006. A few of Eric’s girl-friends had been informed that a new roommate was moving into the residence hall three weeks into semester. The one thing we all knew: she was home-schooled.
The first question I asked about her was, “Is she cute?” Now most of us consider a “cute homeschooler” to be an oxymoron. But after meeting Katie, I knew that I had stumbled across one of the greatest paradoxes of my life’s experience: an attractive homeschooler.
It wasn’t long before Eric was displaying his charm and wit, only to discover that Katie was “seeing” someone else. Eric, player that he is, realized that the only way to win this lady’s heart was to play a little game of hard-to-get. So, he packed his bags and flew to England in order to show Katie the Eric-shaped vacuum which would be left by his absence.
After a few weeks, all his conniving paid off and the old boyfriend was old news. It was there in England that Eric made the promise to his two roommates, “When I get home, I will date that girl.” Even back in Oxford, thoughts of a future together began to pull at this old wildcat’s heartstrings.
Katie came to visit Eric in July of 2007 and afterwards Eric asked her if he could maybe give her a call sometime possibly. With her approval, Eric realized that she was already caught in the love-web he had spun so brilliantly to catch this beautiful fly.
Jump ahead to September 2007. A camping trip with friends gave Eric a chance to prove his woodsman skill and hunter-gatherer instincts. Along with showing his ability to cook a hot dog and get stung by 378 mosquitoes, he asked to hold Katie’s hand on a walk along Lake Michigan.
Shortly after, Eric asked Katie on a formal date. He took her to where any young man should take a fine lookin’ lady if he wants to impress her: Lasertag.
Her codename was “The Boss” (real original, I know) and his name was “Masterfalcon” (awesome, I know). It was there under the blue lights and sweaty laser-vests that Eric proved his battle expertise by crushing his date 361 to 100 (and he has the score-cards to prove it).
Anyone can survive a first date. But the second date is the clincher. Once again, Eric proved his brilliance by taking her to Chuck E’ Cheese and letting Katie watch him play the Star Wars game. She had a lot of fun. The night ended the best way a date possibly can—with a lecture on typology in the Book of Job by Dr. Hywel R. Jones.
Enough joking aside, it was sitting next to Katie during that church conference that I decided I wanted to spend every Sunday for the rest of my life sitting next to her in the pew. A good man is hard to find. But a God-fearing woman is more precious than anything this world has to offer. I have found that precious gem in Katie and we are both looking forward to fulfilling the sacred calling of marriage always with our eyes on the ideal marriage: the Lord Jesus Christ and His bride, the Church.
The engagement!
Katie's version
On October 17th, my great Aunt and Uncle and grandparents invited me out to a nice dinner downtown on Navy Pier to thank me for house sitting for them.
Eric was at home in Escondido spending another Friday night studying...or so I thought.
As we were walking down Navy Pier, I heard my name being called. I ignored it because I wasn't sure it was directed to me, and if it was, I thought it might be someone I didn't want to see. After the second time he yelled "Katie!", I turned. About 15 yards behind me stood Eric, looking handsome as ever in a new sport coat, and his Allen Edmonds. I started running at full speed, my heart pounding. I dropped my purse halfway there, and jumped into his arms.
It took me a minute or two to realize it wasn't a dream; that he was really standing there, and by then he was already down on one knee, asking me to spend the rest of my life with him. I think my response was "Of course I'll marry you!!" I was crying and shaking and so surprised. I couldn't believe he was here!
Then the grandparents and aunt and uncle came over and took some pictures and took off. We called our immediate families and spent some time walking around Navy Pier and talking before boarding The Odyssey for a dinner cruise. It included a four-course meal, live music and dance floor and fireworks off of Navy Pier. Soo romantic.
We made the rest of the phone calls to family and friends the next day. The rest of the weekend was a blur of family and friends and pictures and decisions.
We are thrilled to have come to this point in our relationship, and look forward to preparing to spend the rest of our lives together.
