This photo was taken the night that Kirsten and Phil met on Lumberjack Awakening Retreat! The chaplain, Fr. Matt was teaching Kirsten how to two-step when Phil walked by. Fr. Matt asked Phil if he wanted to step in and dance with Kirsten and he said "Yes!" The smile on Kirsten's face in the photo shows how excited she was to meet Phil that night.

Kirsten asked Phil to her sorority formal just a couple weeks after meeting. For Kirsten, it was love at first sight! For Phil, it was a good night with a friend.

Kirsten took a full-time job working for the Newman Center where she and Phil met. Meanwhile, Phil entered the seminary. when Kirsten heard that Phil had entered, she cried! She was proud of him for entering after he had told her years ago that he was discerning. She also cried because she knew that this meant they would never end up together.

After discerning seminary for a year, Phil knew that he wasn't called to be a priest. One of his last obligations as a seminarian was to be present for a golf fundraiser in Flagstaff. When the fundraiser ended, he went to the SFdA adoration chapel. To his surprise, he saw his good friend, Kirst! While in prayer, he thought, "Man. I missed my shot with Kirsten." Kirsten, on the other hand, was realizing she still had feelings for Phil.

While living in Colorado, Phil felt the Holy Spirit inviting him to change his giving to the Newman Center. To make a long story short, Kirsten was asked by her boss at the time to call Phil so he could change his giving. They connected within the last hour of Kirsten working at the Newman Center. Phil said how great it would be to catch up some time and Kirsten was all for it. They both had no idea the plan God had for them! (Enjoy this photo of Phil living it up in Colorado!)

Phil was in AZ for a wedding (and he was sad Kirsten wasn't there). He almost asked her out that weekend, but got nervous. On the drive back to CO, he had an overwhelming desire to ask Kirsten out! He thought long and hard about what to say in a text to Kirsten. He wanted to show he was interested, but was reluctant to call it a date, as it would have been two months until they could see each other again. Enjoy this picture of a screenshot of their conversation. Phil called Kirsten a day after this screenshot was taken and asked her out for when he'd be visiting AZ in November!

Kirsten was so nervous for their first date that she barely ate for 48 hours. Phil on the other hand, was non-intentionally late to pick Kirsten up and was so nervous he almost ran a red light 5 minutes into their date. Nonetheless, they both had a feeling that this was the first of many dates. This picture was taken on a hike that day! Phil asked Kirsten to be his girlfriend just a few days later on 11/28, after they'd seen each other nearly every day during his AZ visit!

Kirsten was elated when Phil decided to move back to AZ. What Kirsten didn't know was that Phil's main reason for moving back was for her. Kirsten flew to Colorado to help Phil drive back to AZ. Phil was so nervous that he never gave her a kiss or hug (until the last second of the trip)! By the end of the 14-hour car ride back to AZ, they felt completely comfortable with each other. This photo was taken in Santa Fe on their way back to AZ. Phil had a whole plan of visiting the St. Joseph staircase in Santa Fe which Kirsten loved!

Phil met Kirsten's family in Flagstaff. At the end of their time in Flagstaff, Phil told Kirsten that he loved her! She was waiting for him to say it and was so excited to say it back to him!

Kirsten and Phil took a trip to Durango, CO to celebrate their 6 months of dating. When Kirsten was least expecting it, Phil proposed, on the eve of the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart! Phil cried tears of joy and Kirsten was in shock and her heart was so full! Phil picked Kirsten's engagement ring and was intentional to buy a ring with three diamonds to represent their future marriage with God in the center.

Kirsten and Phil can't wait to get married and start their family. Kirsten prayed hundreds of rosary for her future husband (and Phil prayed dozens of rosaries); Mary has been prevalent in their relationship and it felt like May 3rd was handpicked for them by her. Philip and Kirsten will be partaking in the First Saturday devotion to dedicate their marriage to Mary, with the 1st of 5 Saturdays starting on January 4th, and the 5th and final Saturday being on their wedding day. You're invited to partake in the First Saturday devotion with them, asking for Mary's intercession as they plan to start their family!