WE'RE GETTING MARRIED!

Neither of us remember the first time we met. But after the blur of a week of TFA orientation passed I remember nearly everything. Carr and I were both assigned to the 8th grade team (him-Social Studies, me-English) for a summer school program in Northampton County in June 2016. We have many shared experiences from that time, but to summarize, I was drawn to him right away (and all of our friends knew it!) He was funny, honest, and intriguing, and by the end of summer the time we spent together began to feel less like a coincidence and more like a divine appointment. The last few days of teaching that summer we stayed up late together grading papers until the early hours of the morning, mostly listening to music, and bantering. However during those evenings, our conversations became more personal and vulnerable, and I began to see who Carr really was, a man of faith, who was very passionate and committed to those he cared about. And as a bonus we enjoyed many of the same things (music, travel, good food) and had a lot of little things in common too. (Terminator was the first rated R movie we both saw.) That summer we were hired by the same school district and our schools were next door to one another. So with the combination of our connection and ongoing proximity, our friendship grew stronger. Nearly every evening we spent time together working and talking, about anything and everything- faith, life goals, work, politics, and as I told Carr on our first date, I've never felt more equal with another person. It did take Carr a little while to realize that our friendship might become a good relationship, but I wouldn't change a minute of all the evenings we spent together sitting across the room from one another pretending to work, because it has gotten us here to this most wonderful and joyful season.

I had decided to join the Teach for America corps in Eastern North Carolina after graduating from Wake Forest University. This left me in a new place surrounded by new and exciting people. And among these new people, Alex was chosen with me to teach 8th graders in summer school. I was struck by her patience; her quiet and contemplative nature was a foil to my own uneasy bombast in the same setting. My need to be the center of attention found a counter in her desire to be calm, reserved and selective in her words. As that summer transitioned into the school year, both of us sought each other for managing the stresses of teaching in Northampton County, NC. By engaging in endless tangents on music, faith and movies on too many fast food runs, we found that we simply could not be separated. Nevertheless, It took me some time to really appreciate how strongly our friendship was going (our friends noticed from the start). This waiting game tested Alex and I's patience significantly, though my choice to finally pursue this friend was cemented on a road trip to Charlotte with our friend Hannah. Though I had made Alex wait a long time, she was pleased that I had "finally made a decision!" It took another two weeks for our first date, a surprise homemade meal (complete with a surprise Avett Brothers CD- thanks Chandler!) and a Wes Anderson movie). Though the end of that school year was tough, trips to Charlottesville, Virginia Beach, and DC solidified for me that Alex's kindness and thoughtfulness were gifts from God. It became clear that God was bringing us together. That season culminated with a summer road trip to Alabama. It was an exciting time that also assuaged many previous anxieties. These two+ years we have spent in growth and faith are a tremendous blessing that changed the course of our lives. Alex has become my best friend, trusted advisor and greatest supporter. God has brought us together for his purposes; I can't wait for what happens next!