From His & Hers

Andrew's Point of View
Our First Meeting

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.”- Isaiah 55:8
Veronika and I first met through an online dating site in late 2019. We seem to have a lot of similar interests; however, I was dealing with health problems and thought I would be moving back to The South so without warning I stopped talking to her. Yet God is gracious and good, even when we mess up. After I was, I decided to stay in San Francisco. I found myself driving home to SF from Georgia; and toward the end of my journey home, I found myself driving next to a snowy mountain and at that moment I felt the Lord calling me to reach back to Veronika, so I did. She was incredibly gracious towards me and of course, wanted to go on a date. Our first date was at Lands’ End in San Francisco. We hiked along the beach and shared each other's passions and desires; including a deep desire to glorify Jesus and love and serve people. Needless to say, we had a couple more dates which involved hiking through mountains, elephant seal safari, talking about C.S. Lewis, kayaking, exploring new places, marching injustice, indulging in the glory of God’s creation in the natural world, and of course, talking about books and we were learning. One of the first things I noticed about Veronika is how compassionate she is and how gracious she is. Rich Mullins said, “I am a Christian, not because someone explained the nuts and bolts of Christianity, but because there were people willing to be nuts and bolts.” You know I can be blunt and over the top in my passion; and find someone that is so gracious and loving towards me is truly a blessing from the Lord.

The Engagement

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”-Genesis 2:24
In July while we’re hanging out at Lake Tahoe Veronika said she would like to marry me. I was so excited! And immediately started planning the engagement. While we were in Georgia, I got my mom’s wedding ring resized for Veronika. I can honestly say that if my mom were here, besides myself no one would love Veronika more from the Bailey family. Anyway, back to the story after weeks of planning, I had Veronika’s friends and coworkers set up a picnic on the beach. I opened a journal I got for her and read my proposal. Then of course I got down one knee and asked Veronika to marry me. And yes, she said yes. We went to celebrate a little while later with my family and Veronika’s, plus her awesome friends whom many had flown out to celebrate. I am deeply grateful for God’s provision of Veronika. I am deeply blessed to have a loving and God-fearing woman to be my wife.

Veronika's Point of View

What caught my eye about Andrew first was his love for the outdoors, CS Lewis, adventure, and above all the Lord. It was late 2019, I’d recently moved to San Francisco and I’d had many friends who had found their “person” through dating apps, I figured I’d give it a try too! Andrew and I messaged for a bit, but then he ghosted me (that means he stopped responding to me). I kept going on dates but hadn’t met anyone I really connected with. I kind of wondered a few times, “what would have happened if that Andrew guy and I had met up…”

Funny story, eventually we did, at the start of 2020. Little did we know the adventure we were on together that fateful January day at Land’s End. We got to know each other over tacos, long walks, many staircases climbed, sandy toes, and long drives along the coast of California. Life didn’t look much like what we expected in 2020, but the grace and space of the Lord made it possible for us to really get to know each other with the pressures of the pandemic rubbing up against us.

In the midst of challenging times, Andrew has been my consistent rock. He’s reminded me of God’s sureness and steadiness in all things. Andrew has trusted in God even when there was fog in the way and reminded me over and over again in all circumstances I’m loved by God first and then loved by him. It’s with joy that I know as we step into marriage Andrew will continue to point me to our Maker and reflect His light into the lives of those around us and I can’t wait to do that together as Mr. & Mrs. Bailey!!