Zachary & Hannah

From Zach:

I must admit, I was skeptical. I found Upward through a YouTube ad and downloaded it because I had literally nothing else going for me. After a few months of matches that went nowhere, I found I had matched with a pretty 25-year-old lady named Hannah. It didn't hurt that she had a cute little dog in her profile picture. She was a non-denominational woman named Hannah. I was a Reformed Baptist at the time, so I was cautiously optimistic. Then, within 5 minutes of exchanging messages on the app, she pulled a power move: she gave me her number, told me to message her there if I was serious because she didn't like using the app, and wished me well. Needless to say, I was hooked. Within 3 weeks of exchanging messages, I drove the three hours to see her in central Illinois from southwestern Wisconsin to visit her. We met at a dog park, went to a museum, got Olive Garden, and hung out with our dogs. I must confess, I said, "I love you," first. After a month of dating, I got her to break down and admit she felt the same way. Partway through that very first date, I knew I wanted to marry this woman. Initially, that's what we would do once every 3 weeks once I got a job across the state near Milwaukee: drive down to spend the weekend with her and come back, or vice versa. Then, when it became more serious, we'd make it every other week. And that's how it went for two years. A year to the day, at the same dog park, I proposed to her, but only after I had to scramble for an excuse to go talk to some strangers to take photos for what I was about to do, under the pretense that I knew one of them from college. Around this time, I was having serious doubts about Calvinism and was looking heavily into Lutheranism. But, at the same time, I was becoming aware of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Despite my best efforts, much like C.S. Lewis, I could not help but believe in something that stood against so much of what I'd come to hold as Christian truths. Despite her own apprehensions, she stood beside me and supported me through this very intimidating time. On March 11, 2023, the day after her birthday no less, I was Chrismated into the Greek Archdiocese as Maximus. And she had driven the journey on her birthday to come up and be with me and my family on this day. Hannah supported me through this journey, my father's cancer diagnosis, and just everything a Christian man could ask of a Christian woman and then some. On June 15, 2024, we were married at St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Rock Island, IL, by no less than three priests (I feel somewhat close to Abraham in our shared experience in that regard). And, on February 23, 2025, my wife was baptized into the Church as Pelagia. Currently, we're trying to figure out where babies come from because we have a terrible case of baby fever. If anyone is aware of where they come from, feel free to email me ASAP, it's a dire circumstance. :)