Courtney and I met in the Spring of 2022 at my brother's wedding in Tampa. We met briefly at the wedding, but had our first conversation after the wedding at the Dog Saloon. I like saying we met at a bar, but Courtney tells me I'm not allowed. After the bar, I called one of my friends to tell him I had met a pretty girl at a bar (he didn't believe me). Truthfully, I didn't think I'd ever get to see Courtney again, but I wanted to. She came to Birmingham a few months later to visit a friend. I was supposed to hangout with her and the friend, but I got too nervous and chickened out. After that weekend, my brother gave me Courtney's number and told me to text her and again, I chickened out. I eventually sent her a text that said I wanted to take her out to dinner the next time she was in Birmingham. Thankfully she responded, and we set a date! I was extremely nervous (it was the first date I had been on in years) but we went to drinks, dinner, ice cream, visited Sara, and finished at a bar. It was over 5 hours and we had the best time! We have spoken every single day since then, and these have been the best years of my life! A month after our first date, I asked Courtney to be my girlfriend on a bench on a popular walking trail in Birmingham. At that time, Courtney was living in Richmond, and I was living in Birmingham. We texted all-day everyday, and we FaceTimed for hours each night. Long distance was hard, but we made it work. Eventually, Courtney moved to Birmingham and the day that she told me it was official was the day that I knew I was lucky enough to marry her, my dreams had come true! In February of 2024, I bought Courtney a ring. I thought I was hiding everything so well, but she saw through my lies immediately. I proposed to Courtney on April 13, 2024 and by the Lord's grace, she said yes. From that day forward we have begun planning the rest of our lives together, but truthfully that began a long time ago. God has been so so kind and faithful to us! Nobody expected He would bring a girl living in Richmond and a guy living in Birmingham together, but He did and we are so thankful! I have prayed for my future wife for as long as I can remember. I never thought I was praying for a girl in Florida and eventually Virginia, but the Lord's plan is perfect! There are so many moments over the last few years where we can see His hands and His handiwork upon our lives and our relationship. We are so grateful for His commitment to us and our relationship!