Our story: According to Ruth
It was a hot summer day at the end of July 2002, little did I know I was about to meet the man of my dreams, or at least the one I would end up marrying. Tom and I first crossed paths when we were paired together as camp counselors at Christian Endeavor’s, Summer Assembly. Our personalities clicked immediately and we had a fantastic week together. We both felt a connection and remained friends after the week had ended.



We kept in touch, talking on IM randomly. Tom was at Penn State and I was at Millersville. Over summer breaks, I stayed in Millersville to work and Tom came home to Parkesburg. Lucky for us the two places are somewhat close. We made a point to see each other a few times each summer. Tom would tutor me in Calculus, we’d grab a pizza, or just watch a movie. It was a great, casual friendship. We both dated through college, but remembered the original connection and continued to keep in touch.



As Tom came down to his final semester, we seemed to start catching each other online more frequently. Some nights we would talk for hours at a time, gradually getting to know each other better. Our conversations grew more intimate as graduation grew closer. In March of 2005, Tom came to visit me in Millersville we had our usual type of reunion, but we both knew it was different this time. That night ended with a kiss and began something wonderful.



A few weeks later, I came to Penn State to meet the gang. Everyone was welcoming and everything just felt so right. I didn’t want that weekend to end.



May came and with it graduation. Tom came back to Parkesburg and we started officially dating. The summer brought beautiful weather and a wonderful new relationship. Tom pulled out things in me that I never knew were there. We spent the summer climbing trees, sneaking into swimming pools, hiking, and so much more. One night, he convinced me to skip class and drive to Avalon. On the beach that night we shared our first “I love you.”



When fall came I finished my last semester and Millersville University and then started teaching as a long-term substitute. Our relationship continued to grow through the next summer. This was filled with the stress of job searching for me. I was fortunate to have my choice of a job in the area where I grew up or one in Lancaster where Tom was. For me this was a defining moment and of course I chose a life here with Tom.



Fall came around again, business was booming for Tom and I was busy teaching. Our relationship was still growing stronger as time passed.


In early December Tom told me that he had received two free passes for a movies screening at a new local theater. He knew I had a love for Charlotte’s Web as a child, so he claimed that is what we would be seeing. That night we went for dinner and then to the theater. Surprisingly, when we entered we were the only ones there. The lights dimmed and I turned to Tom for a kiss. Chasing Cars started to play and he promptly turned me toward the screen. Suddenly, our picture appeared. As the song played the pictures showed the story of our relationship and of course at the end the words “Ruth, will you marry me?” Soon to follow this began the planning of our (at the time) very distant wedding.