e-Love - I R L

Tis the season for ULC weddings. Today we would like to recognize the union of Jodi Jansen and Noa Oliver.

Early in the summer of 2004, Jodi Jansen, a student at Augustana College, went with some friends to a "Welcome Home" party at South Dakota State University.

The gathering was for Noa Oliver, hosted by his brother, William, Jansen's former Lincoln High School classmate.

Jansen and Oliver met at the party and spent the Summer together. When the season turned to Fall, Jansen left to spend a semester studying abroad and the two decided to take a break from their relationship. It turned out to be the separation that brought them back together.

During the separation, the two still communicated daily via e-mail and camera phone.

"It's not like we had to - we ended up choosing to," said Jansen, who found that distance had made the two stronger.

In July 2008, the couple tied the knot:

"Noa's brother, Will, became a reverend with Universal Life Church online and he married us," said Jansen. "He gave a sermon with a speech about how comfortable we were doing the wedding this way, how across different cultures, marriage and ceremonies are different and that these two people make each other better."

A belated best wishes to Jodi and Noa!
-Argus Leader