If you ask Niko...

It was not for a lack of trying that I was looking for who I eventually found to be Hannah. After 31 years, I had accepted my fate, really only praying for one thing: a woman with a good heart. It was in the Lord's hands leading up to the moment I met her, and I had a strange sense of acceptance: whatever He had in store for me had to be something special.

Funny enough, before I can introduce our own relationship, I first have to introduce my relationship with my (soon-to-be) mother-in-law. You see, without her, I wouldn't have met Hannah to begin with, so shout outs to you, Becky.

I was taking my grandmother on a stroll. It was a mild Texas Autumn evening, and the light was beginning to golden before taking its leave. As we were leaving the house, we came across a neighbor that we hadn't yet met before, this being the famous Becky Ouellette, taking the trash to the front curve. After exchanging some pleasantries, my aunt and uncle happened to walk upon us, joining the conversation. My aunt Floramay had a keen eye for an opportunity, and, taking a shot in the dark, volunteered me as a single man. Becky took a moment to size me up, and asked me a simple question: "Are you a Christian?" I emphatically responded with a yes. Apparently this was enough to bring me to meet Hannah's father, Jarrett Ouellette. Jarrett, mind you, was not in the best shape, still recovering from a torn achilles that he sustained while making a game winning shot in a pickleball match, but this still did not deter him from sizing me up. I apparently met all the criteria:

Tall (enough)

Deep (enough) voice

Loved the Lord

This was sufficient to win me the chance to call the angel I came to know as Hannah. Playing it cool, I waited two days (you never let the target get a whiff of desperation) and then subsequently called her on Wednesday afternoon. A sweet, sonorous voice answered me, and we started to talk. I had not yet realized I had already passed the event horizon of Black Hole Hannah's quality time vortex, but I would soon. We were about 30 minutes into the conversation, when we arranged for a date sometime next week. Casually, I was happy with this outcome, and tried to lead the conversation to a natural conclusion, however we just couldn't stop talking with each other. Thirty minutes turned into four hours, and time just kept slipping more and more into this relationship with a woman I've never met before. It was just so easy to talk with her, like slipping my hand into a glove made just for me.

The next evening, I had dressed my best, and drove down to meet her. I was shocked to find she lived only a few minutes from where I spoke to Becky with my Grandmother. I thought I was prepared for this, but found myself to be sorely mistaken: Hannah's house was immaculate. Pristine countertops, perfectly considered decor, a beautiful dog and cat, and then, of course, herself, absolutely dressed to kill. She then proceeded to apologise for how messy the house was, leaving me to wonder what the heck this place looked like "clean". I took her to a Pizzeria downtown, Partenope, and then took her hand to lead us to our table. I remember her eyes sparkling while we learned about each other (her unique reading skills and love of Joe Rogan for example), and time kept spinning until it was time for us to leave. There was no way we were going to let the night end so quickly. Having no prepared recourse to follow-up, we wandered our way to a random Irish pub a few blocks away. Again, the quality of the conversation with her was just so easy; it allowed me to paint a picture of my hopes and dreams for her to gauge who I really was, and for me to understand what she really wanted out of life. As the night ended and we parted ways, I was struck by an odd feeling, one that I couldn't quite put my finger on. It would have to wait until the next time we met, as I was a groomsman for a wedding the next day (thanks Chadrik).

This began a series where Hannah and I saw each other every day for about two weeks.

I knew I was really in trouble the second day we met, after the wedding, for coffee. It was astounding how well Hannah listened and paid attention, and the noise of the entire world turned down all around us. Colors were brighter. People smiled more. My world shifted dramatically. It was easy to see she felt the same. The look on her face when I came over to her house with a bottle of wine and caramels after a long day of work was pure shock. Then came tears (of joy). I returned the favor when I found myself telling her I loved her at the end of the two weeks. That was a surprise for both me and her!

The only thing that threatened to disrupt our spontaneous, every day ritual was a business trip I had to take to San Francisco. Bringing Hannah with me was one of the greatest choices I have ever made. I remember exactly the moment that struck me as we were driving down the golden gate bridge, on our way to watch the sunset by the edge of the cliffside on the top of our jeep. I knew at this point that she was going to be my wife. It would take several months after that, but it's amazing how early I realized who she was to me right then and there. There was no ambiguity, no self-doubt. God gave me my wife when I least expected her to show up.

It's amazing that we have only been together for 7 months as of writing this; I understand so much about her and myself that I never would have before. She already has had an effect on me, making me a changed man. I know for certain that there are more of these changes to come, but I am just so grateful to be the one responsible for her wellbeing in the lifetime to come.

Thank you all for reading our story, and I can't wait to see you at the wedding!

Photos