Buckle up! This is our story told by Ally. In the summer of 2023, my young life AD and good friend invited me to go on summer staff with her to serve families at Trail West Lodge in Buena Vista for a month. Not completely sold on the idea, Emma promised we’d go up a few days early to explore Colorado. This did the trick and I signed up asap! On the day that we were meant to arrive at camp, Emma and I decided to go on a hike just outside of town. We got on trail and hiked up to the top. It was an incredible view! So incredible, that we thought it best to continue straight to see more. Without a second thought, we trekked on. Far too late we realized our mistake. We hoped for a switchback… it never came. Emma and I were dumped out into an unrecognizable parking lot without service, so we walked along this dirt road praying we were going the right direction. Ten minutes in we finally got service back and I checked our car location! 6.2 miles away... We wouldn’t make it to camp on time. Looking for a solution, I texted the other summer staffers and asked if anyone was in town and had a car. I hopped on the phone with a guy named Ben, explained the situation and sent him our location. A few minutes passed and I got a text from a different number. He claimed his name was Jake and told me he was on his way to pick us up instead of Ben. A bit later we made it to the side of some country road and texted him to look out for two girls in colorful backpacks. We looked to the bend of the road and saw a silver mustang headed towards us. It was him. He pulled off the road and stepped out of the car. A real handsome man with some freckles and kind blue eyes. I was SOLD. Seeing my reaction, Emma offered to take the back seat. My wingwoman! After a little chit chat, he dropped us off at our car and said bye for the next hour. Little did I know this man I just met would be my future husband (I sure started dreamin’ though)! At camp we got to be good friends! I was more smitten with him by the day. And then the shoe finally drops. I found out he had a girlfriend. Dreams. Were. Crushed. I shed a tear or two that night, I really thought I had found the one! Reeling my feelings back in as much as I could, I was sad but we stayed friends for the rest of the time. Overall it was a great month serving! The next few months I grieved the loss of my camp crush and would bring him up way too often. My roommates can attest to this! Late November came around and I got a text. Hello Jake!!!! He and Ben wanted to come visit me?! I did some digging and discovered he was single! SCORE! I gave the green light and we found a day to hang in December. The day came and we had so much fun! At the end, I was saying goodbye to Jake at the door while Ben got in the car. After a quick hug, he asked to go back inside and sit down with me and talk. My heart was pounding! He asked me out on a DATE! Duh I said yes. I’ve been thinking about this man since I met him! He left and as soon as I closed the door, I fell to the floor (again, ask my roommates)! We had our first date in Austin on the beautiful day of January 4th, 2024! Another date in Dallas a week after and it was official! Badda bing badda boom! Things moved quick! A few months of long distance and then loooong distance over the summer while I was in Colorado! All through these seven months, God was MOVIN’! He orchestrated the most unbelievable opportunity for Jake to move jobs and come to Austin, the place we dreamed about building a life together in! God has been good to us!!! We are so thankful for every twist and turn in His plan to get us here! No one else but our God could do it. A beautiful proposal came on August 14th, 2024 in the same place we met, that old country road. Thank you God! A year after our first date, Jake and I will be married! Mannnn are we thankful for what the Lord taught us during dating and engagement & we are so eager to see how He will use us in marriage!