Our Story
Meet Rachell!
Rachell Catherine was born in Burlingame, CA on February 10, 1977 to Basil and Flora Holowaty. The third of four children (Chris, Cynthia, and Jonathan), Rachell grew up and attended school in Burlingame, CA. After graduating high school in 1995, Rachell attended The Master’s College in Santa Clarita, CA, before graduating with a business degree from Notre Dame in Belmont, CA. After a few years in the corporate world, Rachell went back to school to pursue her Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy at Western Seminary in Los Gatos, CA. Rachell also works full-time as a development coordinator for John Stott Ministries in Menlo Park, CA, and as a counselor at the Christian Counseling Center in San Jose, CA.
Meet Ryan!
Ryan Patrick was born in Lake Forest, IL on June 7, 1979 to Tom and Patty MacCarthy. Along with his younger brother, Sean, and sister, Meghan, Ryan grew up and attended school in and around Long Grove, IL. After graduating high school in 1997, he studied Comparative Religion & Speech Communication at Miami University in Oxford, OH. With his degree he moved back to Long Grove to work as a Web Developer for a medical association while also leading the junior high and high school youth groups for Long Grove Community Church. During this time Ryan also began working part-time as a web strategy & marketing consultant for his current employer, Nebo Group. After a few years in the Chicago area, Ryan felt the call westward and made the long drive across the country to Palo Alto, CA. Running the west coast operations of Nebo Group, Ryan spends his days helping businesses use technology to more effectively communicate their message.
How they met!
Although they can’t remember when they first met, Ryan does recall seeing Rachell a few pews up at church soon after moving to California in 2003.
“California is going to be very good!”
He remembers thinking
after seeing Rachell for the first time
They met shortly there after and remained friends for nearly two years before Ryan finally made a move.
“Rachell was one of those girls that is so out of your league that you put her in the “just-a-friend” category as fast as possible to avoid a broken heart.”
Their friendship grew and needless to say, Ryan finally worked up the courage to share his feelings for her in February 2005. Little did he know she had been waiting and wondering when he might make a move for several months now. She responded with an enthusiastic “yes”!
“I couldn’t figure Ryan out. He didn’t flirt with me or throw out any “signals”. I just knew I loved talking with him, and that he was very cute. It felt great to be going into a relationship with a dear friend.”