Bri & Aaron

Aaron grew up in California. Bri grew up in Oregon. We became friends through leadership and service activities sponsored by our Lasallian high schools. While we lived several miles apart, distance did not hinder our adolescent friendship. During this time, we sent several "real" letters (pre-email) to each other and regularly chatted on the telephone. Additionally, there were even a few visits to see one another beyond the school-sponsored trips. After high school, we lost touch. Aaron went off to Santa Clara University and Bri headed up to Gonzaga University. Around the time of college graduation, one of Bri's friends from high school sent her an article he came across about Aaron on the Santa Clara website. With great enthusiasm, Bri tracked down Aaron's contact information and emailed him. We shared our excitement about reconnecting as well as our post-collegiate plans. Coincidentally, we were both headed off for a year of volunteer work with the Jesuits. Not too long after graduating, Aaron left for Quito, Ecuador and Bri went back East. Again, we lost touch. Over the next several years, there was no communication. However, the lives we led were quite parallel. Specifically, we pursued similar graduate degrees (i.e., counseling and clinical social work) and career aspirations. Almost 15 years after we first met, our paths crossed once again. While advocating for a graduate as part of her work at Nativity School in Portland, Bri was surprised to find a handwritten note in the student's file with instruction to contact Aaron Uchikura at Santa Clara University regarding a scholarship program he coordinated. Bri followed the note's instruction and the rest is history... well, kind of... Much like the days of our youth, we quickly found ourselves writing many letters (or emails) to each other and chatting on the phone for several hours at the end of our day. There were a handful of visits, back and forth, between California and Oregon as well. While living numerous miles apart may not have hindered our adolescent friendship, we decided that distance was not preferred for our grown-up friendship. So, Aaron bravely packed up his car, grew a beard, bought some rain gear and moved to Portland. Apparently, it was an okay decision given this whole wedding thing. I mean, we're pretty happy. Okay. Okay. Truthfully, we are very happy and incredibly grateful for the gift of finding and choosing each other as partners for this precious and unpredictable life. Also, we're very grateful for our people. Yes, YOU! It is an honor sharing our love and lives with all of you. Thank you for loving us. Thank you for supporting us. Thank you for believing in us. We love you. We love you. We love you.