Starry and I first met when a mutual friend invited me to a small group Bible study in June of 2005. Starry was (and continues to be) the facilitator for the study.

I didn't really get to know Starry until later that summer when I volunteered to help her move from her current apartment to the Cramer's house. It ended up being Starry, her parents, and myself. Although I had no idea at the time, I think it was a good way to make a first impression on my future inlaws! It was also the first time that I discovered that Starry had spent part of her childhood in Taiwan and speaks Mandarin Chinese.

A few months later, we both volunteered to help out at a Chinese language retreat which Ken Wagoner organizes every year on Labor Day weekend. Since I had a car and Starry did not, I gave Starry a ride to the campground. This was the first time I had a real opportunity to get to know Starry, and I was intrigued, to say the least.

A few weeks after Chinese camp, I asked Starry if she would join me for a picnic out at Frick park. We had Subway sandwiches and talked until late in the evening. It would turn out to be the first of many wonderful dates as I got to know Starry and understand that she was the one for me!

In the summer of 2005, Justin joined my small group from church. He was invited by a classmate with whom he had been searching for a church home. She had been referred to our group by Mitch Hill and had been attending for awhile before Justin decided to check it out too.

At that time our group was going through some transition. The hosts for our meeting were about to have a baby. To give them a break we switched our meeting place to another couple's apartment. However, they had just bought a house and were in the process of fixing it up and preparing to move! As the facilitator of the small group I felt responsible for making sure we had a regular place to meet. But the efficiency I was living in was just not big enough to hold our group. Having only attended a few times, I was surprised but impressed when Justin offered his apartment as a meeting place. At first I was a little reluctant to accept his offer, but seeing he was serious, gladly accepted.

In small group I enjoyed getting to know Justin through his contributions to our Bible discussions and seeing how willing he was to help others - in little ways like making sure he had a variety of beverages so everyone in small group could find something they liked, and in bigger ways such as offering his services and the use of his truck to everyone who moved that summer. I was one of the people moving that summer -- on a weekend when my parents were my only other source of help! It was a LONG day of moving, but once again, I was very grateful for his help and impressed that he gave it so cheerfully.

His range of interests also intrigued me - knife collecting and crocheting?! As I got to know him, I began to wonder if he was interested in me. I sometimes was the first person to arrive at his apartment for small group and it seemed Justin always made a point to talk to me, ask me how everything was going… But it seemed he had a lot of girl friends so I told myself not to read anything into it.

Then came Labor Day weekend. I had volunteered to help out in the kitchen at a weekend camp for Chinese people. I had enjoyed it last year so was looking forward to this year's weekend, but was a bit anxious because I didn't have a way to get there. As the time drew near, I emailed a reminder to the organizer that I was willing to go but would need a ride. I received a reply saying Justin was taking me! Apparently when helping out at the giveaway of household items to International students he had mentioned if there was anything else he could do to let him know, had learned about the Chinese camp weekend, and agreed to go.

We had a lot of time to talk on the drive out and back. I also was able to observe how he worked while we were there. Though it was his first time and the work is very labor intensive, I noticed he jumped right in, finding things to do and keeping busy while there was work to do. Meanwhile, there was another kitchen worker -- an engineering student -- who took a special interest in Justin. When she asked me about my relationship to Justin I said I was just a friend in the same small group from church. But that was when I first began to realize that, if he was interested, I surely would be interested in having a chance to get to know him better.

The first chance came soon after that weekend. Justin mentioned he would like to go to a Renaissance Fair and asked if I would like to come too. I wondered if he was inviting others or just me but thought it'd be fun regardless. I said I might have to work that weekend, but if not I would love to come. I tried hard to get enough done so I didn't have to work that weekend, but was unsuccessful. I felt horrible, but had no choice but to call Justin and say I couldn't make it. To my surprise, he didn't sound too disappointed; he just asked if instead I'd like to go on a picnic when I finished my work. That's when I realized he'd only invited me. I said that sounded good and waited anxiously for that day to come. Justin got Subway sandwiches, brought a blanket and a Frisbee, and off we went for a picnic in Frick Park. It was a beautiful day. I had a great time and felt very blessed to have this time to spend with him!

The weekend of Labor Day, 2006, Starry and I returned to the Chinese language bible retreat to help out in the kitchen. At that time, I was amazed that we had only known each other for a year, and yet we were so close. I decided it was time to ask Starry to marry me.

I discussed my decision with my parents and a couple of close friends, and asked them to pray for me as I moved forward with my decision. It was only September, but I set a target date to ask Starry on November 13th, the one year anniversary of the "official" beginning of our dating relationship. The consensus among my friends and family who were "in the know" was that there was no way I'd be able to wait that long. And they were right.

Engagement ring shopping was an adventure all unto itself. Thankfully, there is a building in downtown Pittsburgh called the Clark Building, where there are literally dozens of jewelers in a single location. I spent several days talking the 4 C's with various sales representatives. When I finally made my decision, they told me the ring would be ready to pick up the following Monday, October 9th.

I had already decided on my ideal location for the actual proposal. I wanted to take Starry back to the spot in Frick park where we had that very first outing. The only problem was that the weather was already starting to turn cold. So when October 9th rolled around and it was an unseasonably warm, sunny day, it seemed that God had given me perfect weather, so I decided to take advantage of the opportunity.

Starry was actually off work that day, but had to go to the office for a few hours anyway. I called her up and offered to pick her up from work and take her on a picnic. At that point, I had had the engagement ring in my possession for a total of three hours. I was so nervous, I thought for sure I would give myself away, but arrival at our spot in the park was uneventful.

I had planned all these wonderful things to say, about how important Starry is to me, and how special she is, and on and on. But when the time came, I went completely blank. I couldn't remember a single thing that I had planned to say. I couldn't think. I could barely speak. So I pulled out the ring and said, "Will you marry me?"

Starry is known for many things, but being decisive is not one of them. When choosing a location for the proposal, I thought the park would be a great choice, not only for its sentimental meaning, but because it would give her time if she needed to think about it or talk to me about it. But this one time, this most important day, she did not hesitate. She didn't ask any questions or pause to ponder. She whispered quietly, "Yes."

I will always remember that moment the most affirming moment of my life up to that point. Her confidence in me - in us - still means more to me than my words can truly express. Thank God for the blessing that Starry is to me and the joy that she brings me!

Monday, October 9th, 2006 was a holiday for me (Columbus Day). However, we had a deadline coming up at work and I was planning to go in for at least a half-day's work. It was an unseasonably warm and beautiful fall day. So I wasn't too surprised when Justin called and asked if I was up for a picnic in the park. The offer was very tempting, but I hadn't been at work very long, so I said maybe in a few hours.

At the appointed time Justin picked me up, bearing Subway sandwiches, and what appeared to me to be a yellow rose on the dashboard (it was white). He didn't say anything about it though until we arrived at Frick Park, when he said, "oh, I almost forgot, this is for you." I thought, okay, it's nice to be friends. I was thankful, but a little disappointed, hoping that someday soon I'd mean more than that to him.

Then we walked through the Park to our usual picnic spot on a hill, spread out the blanket, sat and talked for awhile. Justin asked if I'd like to see the test papers he'd generated in an effort to discourage or identify cheating in the lab class he TA's. I was a little surprised, but said ok. He searched through his bag for a bit, stopped, and rather agitatedly said he was sorry, he must have left them at home or something, then said "But I have something for you…"

It was not until that moment that I realized he was going to propose to me. He drew a little purple jewelry box out of his bag, opened it so I could see the ring (it was wondrously sparkly) and asked me if I would marry him! I said yes, : he described how he'd picked out the ring (he chose it all by himself!), and our wedding planning began.