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When Collin first reached out to me he didn’t remember my name, but I knew his from when we met at Resonate and church… more than once. He got my phone number from my friend and introduced himself via text with a photo of his favorite drink, a Shirley Temple. It was especially funny because he thought he was introducing himself for the first time AND he was wearing a cowboy hat, what I now know to be his prescription sunglasses, and holding a bottled girly drink. After laughing about his text we confirmed details for a Young Life recruitment event. I showed up eager to learn about a ministry for teens despite his interesting invitation. As I arrived I looked for his famous red truck but he was nowhere to be found. After a few texts he said he was running late so I had to show up alone to play kickball with a bunch of people I didn’t really know. Thankfully I did because when Collin arrived in his best church clothes and jumped into the game; I was grateful to be on the opposite team. As he ran the bases he couldn’t stay upright and consistently blamed it on his shoes. The laughter erupted so loud from the park I don’t know how we managed to not disrupt the houses close by. As we all walked to Nate Stoddard's house for the rundown on what Young Life is I made sure to tell Collin that he reminded me of a newborn giraffe whose legs were too wobbly to stand. From there in our competitive nature we played spikeball, where he also could not remain upright. During the game Collin asked me about my work at Chick-fil-A and I got to share a little of my story and my heart for Jesus. The night came to a close after some food, prayer and a call to support Young Life ministries. As Collin, our friend Ruth, and I walked to our cars I reminded him of his newborn giraffe nickname. He asked what car was mine and I shared how it was a box of rocks and had many things wrong with it. I was met with a Mr. Fix it attitude, and he repaired the lining under my car in the moment. We talked for a while and he called me perfect. I thought he also said it during spikeball but I brushed it off thinking there's no way he could be so forward, or serious. But here he was saying it all over again. After the event Collin reached out again over text, inviting me out to hear more of who I am and more story. Wary of him and who he was I instead invited him to come with a bunch of us from Resonate (a young adults group) to applebees after the meeting. We filled the booths in a section and Collin and I were seated across from each other at a long table. It was nice to have another opportunity to see who Collin was in a place with my friends. After that I remember texting a little, and sharing that I could use prayer for my bible study. I was also in the process of moving apartments and had recruited all of my kids to help me carry my stuff and then we could spend the rest of the day playing card games and eating yummy food in fellowship together. My family and friends all mingled together in a tiny 725 square foot apartment and finished all of the hard work. Then a while later as we’re playing our favorite card game Collin texted offering “real help.” I laughed and shared his text with the group and told him we didn’t need a short kings help. But I was wrong and I did end up calling on Collin to mount the TV. Little did Collin know that I fully know how to mount a TV to the wall. As we grew to know each other a little more I asked him to fix more things around my apartment (which I also knew how to do). I’d always say “whenever you have time, no worries if not” and he’d reply “priorities.” Collin quickly became someone who I trusted after his consistency and passion showing up for me.

I volunteer for a youth ministry called young life. We were asked to invite new people to a leader recruitment night they were running. Everyone I knew either already leads young life, doesn't want to, or did in the past. I struggled to find people I knew but wanted to be a good example to the other leaders. I had been doing the landscaping at Chick-fil-A Hamburg for a few years and recognized this one girl. I didn't know her name but I had a conversation with her once and remembered she was wearing nicer clothes, so she had to be a part of the management team in some fashion. I then recognized her at church as a part of a bible study. I realized she must love Jesus on some level and could be a really good candidate for young life. I didn't know her name so I reached out to a young life student that worked at Chick-fil-A. I asked him who the girl is that's taller and has curly hair and wears nicer clothes. He said it was Ashley and sent a photo. I saved the number he sent in my phone as Chick-fil-A Queen. I texted her with what I thought was a well crafted, funny, yet warm message. I included a photo of me holding my favorite drink, a Shirley Temple, to break the ice and so she hopefully recognized me. Little did I know we had already met multiple times and she knew exactly who I was. To my surprise, she agreed to come. I didn't want people to think I was asking a girl because I just wanted to date her so I also invited another guy who worked at Chick-fil-A. The truth is I thought the guy would be a great candidate AND I thought the girl was really pretty. The guy never answered my message, and looking back I think that was the best thing that could have happened to me. Understanding now her shy nature, she never would have talked to me, she would have hung out with him. The day of the event came and I was running late due to helping a neighbor with a broken down car. I felt bad she was there knowing nobody and rushed to make it. The game of kickball had already started. I wasn't anticipating helping my neighbor so I never had a chance to change my clothes after church. I wore a brand new outfit that day which I was really excited about. Since I was late I ran right onto the field, my team was up to bat. I kicked the ball and started running the bases as fast as I could. The shoes I was wearing were not ideal and I fell a couple times. After I realized I had just ruined my clothes I went all out and started diving. On the walk back this girl called me a new born giraffe. I wasn't sure who she was or who she thought she was talking to, but she was funny. We started playing spikeball where I took my dress shirt off because it was stained now. This girl had the audacity to tell me to put it back on because I would most likely fall again and stain the undershirt. Unfortunately she was right, and I was upset about it. Since I showed up late I hadn't had a chance to talk to this Ashley girl yet. But we talked while we played. I asked her what she did in life and she told me. Then I asked her what her goal in life was and she told me. She explained how she started working at Chick-fil-A as a team member while going to college for law enforcement. Her overarching goal was to help people by walking alongside them during their most difficult times, she shared how she believed that was most possible with a badge, her end goal being working with homeland security in human trafficking.

Then while working at Chick-fil-A realized she could do everything she hoped to do and then some without a badge, also incorporating her faith. During her time at Chick-fil-A she gradually climbed the ranks to manager. While doing so the owner, Drake offered her the executive director role. After finishing college she realized Chick-fil-A was the path she wanted to pursue and accepted the role and now runs a bible study before church with employees and friends. It was at that moment I realized she didn't want to be a young life leader, she already was one on her own. I realized in that statement we had a lot in common and she seemed like the perfect person to do life with. I called her perfect and she either said nothing or brushed it off. She was competitive but also didn't get angry when we lost or messed up. She was fun but didn't need to be the center of attention. She was kind, genuinely not just for her image. Her heart for Jesus and young people had me hooked. The night went on and we both realized young life wasn't a feasible venture for her. Ruth was a friend of hers and I had agreed to drive her home after the event. The event ended and I walked her to her car. Her car was this beat up chevy which I was familiar with from my time working on them. I was attracted to the way she didn't care how nice or how good her car looked. She was passionate about saving money and didn't need anything fancy. I was appalled by the condition of the car and told her I could help fix it. I don't think she believed me or wanted me to, but I was very serious. We left, and Ruth teased me about asking her out. I told her to put in a good word for me, I was weary of allowing myself to get invested in something that would be just one sided. I decided to text Ashley and thank her for coming. I was intrigued by her story and genuinely wanted to learn more/see where this could go. She replied by inviting me to a group event on the following monday which in my mind was a total turn down. I accepted and moved on. In my head if it was meant to be I wouldn't have to force it or worry. The Monday event came and a group of us went to Applebees. I didn't really want to go, but to be honest I was into this girl so I went. She mentioned how she wasn't very hungry and neither was I so I offered to split a meal. She answered with attitude and said “how are we going to share a meal from across the table?” I died inside and moved on with the night. As the night progressed I realised I wasn't the only one who had eyes on her. And at that point I knew there was no chance and moved on thinking nothing would come of it and that was okay. Can’t say I didn't try. Friday comes along and I get a message from giraffe girl asking me to pray for her bible study. As you could imagine I was very confused, why me? How could I pray from across the table? Her text seemed genuine, she said I seemed like the kind of person who would care about a thing like that. I couldn't have been farther in the friend zone, but she was right. I did care. So like a sucker I did pray, and I checked in on her the night before, right before the event, and right after the event. I knew she was in the process of moving and I wanted to help but I had no desire to spend all day there. Her idea of moving was hanging out with all her bible study kids in her cat infested apartment moving things slowly one at a time. I'm allergic to cats, and I hate sitting around. So I told her if she needed real help to let me know. She declined and called me a short king. Later in the day she texted saying she did in fact need a real man's help mounting a tv. Like the sucker I am, I dropped everything and went over. It slowly became more clear that we at least enjoyed each other's company, and the rest is history.