Rebecca and I wrote this for our wedding website. I wanted to share it with those of you who read this blog. Sorry, it has collected a lot of dust. We’ll see what happens with it in the future. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this.
Matthew and Rebecca met while attending Fuller Theological Seminary. Rebecca began her MFT program in the School of Psychology in 2008. Matthew came to Pasadena a year later in the School of Theology. Matthew and Rebecca did not interact during this time. They shared many mutual friends but did not meet until one fateful April day in Starbucks. Both were working on homework, like good students, and began to strike up a 
conversation. Both said things like, “I’ve seen you around” “I’ve seen you in the library.” This continued for a few brief moments until they decided to continue with their work. This very well could have been the beginning of the relationship. Starbucks at the center of their relationship, instead however, Matthew is a scared soul who is easily startled and decided the best route was to not talk or acknowledge Rebecca.
conversation. Both said things like, “I’ve seen you around” “I’ve seen you in the library.” This continued for a few brief moments until they decided to continue with their work. This very well could have been the beginning of the relationship. Starbucks at the center of their relationship, instead however, Matthew is a scared soul who is easily startled and decided the best route was to not talk or acknowledge Rebecca.A few months later, everyone considered being wiser and more mature, Rebecca and Matt attended a movie in the cemetery with a group of friends. Many of these friends had coupled off and left Matt and Rebecca to consider the possibility of each other.
This summer would mark a change in Matt and Rebecca. This would be a summer of casual interactions, intentional meeting in the library, playing hooky from school work and long coffee breaks.
The Summer of Love
To say that Rebecca and Matt accidentally ran into each other throughout the summer would be an understatement. These accidents happened more and more frequently to the point where friends no longer called them accidents. Rebecca and Matt liked to believe that they were being clever and coy with their casual meet ups in the library. They would get no school work done, but the work of this budding relationship was in full force.
The next logical step in this courtship was…a date. Matt responded like any responsible adult male should, he stopped talking to Rebecca. Matt likes to remember this time as really thinking through and processing this decision, not wanting to take this lightly. Rebecca on the other hand, remembers this time as being ignored.
Finally, after much deliberating Matt asked Rebecca out on a date right before she left for home, for two weeks. During this time Matt and Rebecca emailed one another daily. Sharing funny stories and anecdotes of their days while separated. This proved to be a great time of connection and established a level of comfort for their first date.
The First Date
While Rebecca was gone Matt planned their date. Being in L.A., he thought he could create an exciting experience. Options varied from dining in pitch dark to Legoland. He decided to go somewhere in between. Matt has a theory of first dates. 1. Try and create a night that accurately reflects the person being escorted. Doing anything and everything that he knew she would enjoy. Or, 2. Do something that allows the escorted to get to know the escort.
He went with Option 2.
Call this selfish if you will, but they ate sushi in Little Tokyo and tried to watch some live jazz. While eating their sushi, Rebecca had a few required “first date tests” to make sure Matt was someone worth her time. Things went well. Very well until it was time to find the jazz bar. They were not able to find this jazz bar. Matt is not convinced it exists. Good thing what truly mattered about the evening was the time together, to get to know each other. Both Matt and Rebecca agree, this was a special night.
From there they were off…
The next year Matt and Rebecca’s relationship turned into something very personal and unique. Their relationship can be summed up in two ways. Their love of weird things and new experiences.
Weird Things & New Experiences
Matt and Rebecca have a unique ability to get lost somewhere and discover something new or strange. Something they both love and appreciate is to venture to a new part of town and explore. They look for a restaurant and maybe a vague destination, but really they stumble into some unique experiences.
They routinely will drive to places like Long Beach, Manhattan Beach, San Diego, Santa Barbara and Malibu just to check out the scene, get the pulse of the area, be with the people…you know?
Their favorite time where unique/weird and discovery collided was an adventure to the Mystery Spot. The Mystery Spot is a gravitational anomaly. This place came on Matt and Rebecca’s radar after googling “tourist traps california.” The mystery spot came up and it is a gem. This is a place where science is not allowed, because it breaks the rules (Also a metaphor for Matt and Rebecca’s relationship). Water flows up and standing up straight is just not something you can do.
Engagement
Matt and Rebecca were engaged on February 24, a whole day before Rebecca thought it would happen. Matt picked Rebecca up from her house after work on a Friday. They drove to Malibu, a place they had visited often during their relationship. They drove in traffic for about an hour to the spot that Matt desired to propose just in time for a picturesque sunset overlooking the california coast with mountains to their back, pretty suave right?
Following the moment Matt was finally able to share all of the secrets that he had been keeping from her during the planning period. He created an email account (matt.rebecca.johnson@gmail.com) that he would email and tell the secrets too. This was so he would not forget what he was feeling or experiencing during this time. Rebecca says, “I loved it!”
From there we needed time. Time process what it is we had done. We had decided to begin a new life together. We decided to spend the rest of our lives together. We could not be more excited for the future.
With excited anticipation we look forward to spending the day with you as we mark a change in our lives. See you soon.
Matthew&Rebecca
