The John-Robert Version:

The story of Teresa and I began when like all good men I waited to receive a message from the girl before reaching out first. However, from the first message on Catholic Match to the first phone call to the first meeting, I can honestly say that Teresa has never stopped pursuing me. That was not serious, that was just to make Teresa laugh because her laugh brings me joy. And, that is the essence of "our story." The joy that Teresa has brought into my life since the first moments of our relationship over a year ago.

We started with exchanging messages on Catholic Match and over time moved on to hour, scratch that, hours long phone calls. Despite some difficulties and trials with distance and health, we persevered and made it to our first meeting in Philadelphia on a wonderfully cold November day which had Teresa shivering as is her custom. From the first moment I saw her standing there waiting for me in the 30th Street station in Philadelphia, I thought to myself, this must be a mistake, because there can be no way that a woman this beautiful and perfect could be waiting for me in this crowd.

We made the distance relationship work over the course of a year with intentional dates and meet-ups. We shared many moments of romantic greatness that even a Hallmark movie would be jealous of. From Ikea parking lots to Dave and Busters to Gothic plays in Annapolis, we had many great moments and dates, all with NoVa commute traffic thrown in for extra fun. And, despite Teresa beating me several times at axe throwing, I continued to grow in my love for her every day and with each meeting and each moment together or apart. She quickly became for me a light in the dark places of the world, a life companion, a person I didn't not want to make plans with but a person I wanted to marry, and yes, she even had me from hello, and she will have me until it is time to say good-bye, though as Lewis would say even that will be just temporary.

Registry