Our story begins abroad as we studied in Austria and embarked on our school’s Rome excursion. Due to a series of fortunate events, including my love of slowly meandering through museums and Brian's apparent inability to choose the correct time slot to buy tickets with friends, we both ended up in the Vatican Museum (specifically the Sistine Chapel) on the same day, at the same time. In between glances at the magnificent ceiling, I spotted Brian doing the same. After remembering his name (I knew it through the grapevine) and thinking he was cute, I mustered up the courage to tap on his shoulder and say hi. We talked briefly about the art, how ridiculous it was they wouldn’t let us take photos, and Brian’s new Florentine leather jacket before I had to catch up with my friends. We say bye and I frankly put the interaction out of my mind.

Two days later, we happen to end up in the same tour group walking around the Roman Forum and we start chatting again. We went to lunch with friends at a restaurant recommended to us by the professor guiding our tour, and I invited Brian to join some friends and I to visit the Colosseum. He accepted and bought a ticket then and there, but we had time to kill before our slot opened, so we decided to make our way over early and continued our conversation sitting on a grassy ledge outside the ruins. As we sat there, we both felt a click and realized that there’s something here between us–I actually remember seeing it on his face and feeling my heart skip a beat. Shortly after, as I confided in my friends that I really liked him and thought there’s something, they lovingly teased me to “get it on in the Colosseum,” to which I rolled my eyes, but laughed. I ended up talking into the night with Brian and eventually called my mom with my feet kicking up behind me and told her how I met a boy.

Over the next couple of days, we continued talking and talking (and talking) as we visited some of the most beautiful sights and quickly fell for each other. On February 3rd–the last day of our Italy trip–we were walking up to the hermitage in Assisi and admiring the view, when Brian asked me to be his girlfriend! I obviously said yes, and from then on, we explored more of Europe, had a few travel snafus along the way, and got to know each other more every day.

Now that we’re starting a whole new journey together as husband and wife, we look forward to the highs and lows, the good times and bad, and the countless blessings that God will give us as we walk His path and trust Him through it all. Thanks to each and every one of you for being a part of our journey and supporting us in our next chapter! God bless,

- Tatum Oxenreider (soon Michelle!)