We met in college at James Madison University in Virginia on the first week of classes. It was our second year of college, but Madison had just transferred to JMU all the way from Texas. The Catholic Ministry was holding a scavenger hunt event on the quad of the school and I (AJ) went to the event. There is where I saw Madison, an unfamiliar face, and introduced myself to her. I noticed Madison wearing a Texas A&M t-shirt and said "Hey! I just did some mission work with students from A&M!" and Madison simply responds by saying the names of those students. In shock, the conversation awkwardly ended and we both went on our way.

At JMU's homecoming weekend, Madison and I were praying in the chapel at the Catholic Ministry. While being literally sick to my stomach from the nerves, I wrote a letter for her. I wrote about how the past few months God has been giving me opportunity after opportunity to trust in Him in the process of getting engaged. Then saying how I hope to imitate St. Joseph in our relationship and that she would continue to give me opportunities to love her as St. Joseph loved Mary. He loved her through security, gentleness, his masculinity, obedience to God and giving Mary the opportunities to be who God was calling her to be.