Meet the Cutest Couple Ever (in our unbiased opinion)!
Nhien - Born in Saigon, Vietnam, on September 29, 1973, Nhien and her family immigrated to the U.S. in the spring of 1975. Nhien grew up as the second of five children (parents are Diem and Mai Vuong) in the small beach city of San Clemente, California. After earning her B.A. in Philosophy from UC Irvine and her J.D. from Stanford Law School, Nhien did a one-year judicial clerkship for the Alaska Supreme Court in Anchorage, AK, during which time she went flight-seeing over Denali National Park, fished for salmon in the Russian River, enjoyed snow-shoeing, and spent hours honing her East Coast Swing moves.
Nhien practiced law (and some mediation) in California for about 10 years before arriving at Unity Village in September 2012 to pursue her calling to become a Unity minister. Little did she know that her soul was also calling her to Unity Village in order to meet the love of her life. Meeting Victor was not an instance of meeting someone 'new' for the very first time but of meeting someone to whom her soul recognized it 'belonged' and was bound. “Our lives are not our own. We are bound to others, past and present, and by each crime and every kindness, we birth our future.” ― David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas |
Victor - Born in Conway AR., on Nov. 20, 1962, Victor and his family settled in Prairie Village Ks. In 1965. An only child, Victor has always been very close with his family, parents Edward and Nancy Jo Dougherty. Nancy currently lives close by now in a retirement community. After receiving his MAEd, Victor began teaching in Olathe, KS, and has taught for over 20 years in the areas of Speech, Theatre, Debate, Forensics and Public Speaking.
When he is not producing Broadway Musicals or directing Olathe's Got Talent (one of the largest student run fund raisers for public education in the state), Victor serves as a master of ceremony at festivals and concerts. Having produced over six CDs for bands that Victor was involved with, he is now working on his second CD of original music. It was actually during a performance of his music in Fillmore Chapel at Unity Village when Victor first met Nhien. "I was busy connecting cables when for no worldly reason I felt the need to stop and look up, that's when I saw her walking towards the chapel. I caught my breath, and I just knew...." "I love you without knowing how, or when or from where. I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride. So, I love you because I know no other way." - Pablo Neruda |
How & where they met; how & where they got engaged!
Victor and Nhien met on January 2, 2013, at a student chapel service in the Fillmore Chapel. Victor was the guest musician that afternoon. To the left is a photo that Unity Worldwide Ministries happened to take of that very chapel service! Victor was playing just a few feet away from the chaplain on the right side of this photo. After the service, Victor came up to Nhien at the hospitality table and chatted her up. He gave her a free CD "Symptoms of Ascension"--a sly way of giving her his contact information! He also indicated that he was on Facebook. Nhien listened to his CD and "liked" his Facebook page that evening. He jumped around his apartment in glee, and the rest is history!
The couple got "officially" engaged (diamond ring and all) on Sunday, September 15, 2013, in Fillmore Chapel, at the close of the "five amazing days" associated with the grand opening of Awaken Whole Life Center (the restored tower) at Unity Village. It truly had been an amazing time with World Day of Prayer, the Tower 5K (in which Nhien placed first in her age group!) and related events. On Sunday, Victor played in a kirtan for Yoga Rocks the Park just outside the Tower. Nhien and Victor then had brunch at the Fig Tree Cafe & Bakery. They came back to campus for a hike and ended up in Fillmore Chapel, where they rested, meditated, and where Victor asked for Nhien's hand in marriage.
Truly, the couple had been betrothed (as between just the two of them) since February 2, 2013, only a month after meeting one another. A few days later, at a special dinner at bluestem, Victor presented Nhien with a claddagh ring (identical to the one shown here), and, as between them, they have felt married ever since! Having an official ceremony, however, is how they want to formally share this commitment with their families and community.
"Love is the offspring of spiritual affinity and unless that affinity is created in a moment, it will not be created for years or even generations." ~ Kalhil Gibran
Truly, the couple had been betrothed (as between just the two of them) since February 2, 2013, only a month after meeting one another. A few days later, at a special dinner at bluestem, Victor presented Nhien with a claddagh ring (identical to the one shown here), and, as between them, they have felt married ever since! Having an official ceremony, however, is how they want to formally share this commitment with their families and community.
"Love is the offspring of spiritual affinity and unless that affinity is created in a moment, it will not be created for years or even generations." ~ Kalhil Gibran