One night, I was spending time at Grand Canyon University with my friend Hayden. It was the end of our first semester of freshman year. The usual tomfoolery as freshman involved caffeine, mischief, and little to no sleep. Little did I know, I would meet someone very special. Hayden suggested meeting with his friend Val to soak at the hot tub. Fortunately for me, Val had a new roommate she invited who was looking to make new friends. In her usual fashion, Naomi arrived late. No immediate sparks flew, but I couldn’t help but notice her beauty. I also couldn’t help but notice her distaste of me and my friend Hayden.. We were off to a rough start. Fast forward a couple months, I found myself in the same group of friends as Naomi. As we got to know each other, we couldn’t have been more different. The brutally honest Jersey boy wasn’t quite ready for this California queen. I always admired that Naomi knew what she wanted, and what she deserved as well. As we became friends, we began to develop a playful banter. Oftentimes, our disagreements would devolve into flirtatious comments, usually ending in the phrase “you’re such a dork Ashton”. In March of our freshman year, the classic spring break love story began. At this point, me and Naomi had become best friends. I used to tell everyone that I was “playing the long game” and someday she might realize that I was the one for her. Lucky for me, I didn’t have to wait long. As we journeyed through San Diego with 20 of our friends, me and Naomi often found ourselves separated from the group. We spent lots of time together and by the end of the trip, I was absolutely smitten. All of a sudden, I found myself in a La Quinta hotel lobby at 2 in the morning, confessing my feelings for her. We went on a couple dates, during which Naomi told me she didn’t see herself getting into a relationship anytime soon. I’m sure most men would have given up at this point, but I had a fierce determination to make her my girlfriend. Despite my charms and advances, she managed to resist until summer. Thankfully, my dad always used to say “persistence pays off”, and by the end of May, we made it official. We spent all of our sophomore year together, traveling, spending time with friends, and getting to know each other on a more meaningful level. I learned about her heart for the Lord, for service, and how well she loved and took care of her friends. I also was blessed to experience how she loved me. I’d never spent time with someone who lived to make every moment special. I’ve always said, every day is better when Naomi is a part of it. A rainy day isn’t just a rainy day. It’s a chance to make tea, light a candle, and watch a movie on the couch under a pile of blankets. Her positivity always stood out to me, and is one of her many qualities I admire. Despite our amazing year and a half together, we both had different areas to grow. We spent our senior year of college apart. I do believe the Lord used that time perfectly to mature us as individuals to better pursue one another and God in our relationship. However, even when we were apart, I always thought about Naomi and a potential future reunion. Thankfully, my moment came in July of 2024. Naomi reached out to me to borrow a book. Seizing the opportunity to see her, I frantically searched my entire house to locate it, and was on my way to her place a few days later. In typical Naomi fashion, she had some tasks waiting for me when I arrived, and next thing I knew I was moving furniture, running returns, and ended up chatting on the couch til 1 in the morning! We quickly got back together. In our time apart, each of us came to realize our impact on one another, and it became clear that God had his hand on each of our lives. Our reunion felt God-ordained, and the fruit of our relationship quickly affirmed that. 7 months passed, and I found myself on my knee at Glen Eyrie, asking her to marry me. Next stop, marriage!