In April of 2018, I began attending a CrossFit gym here in Raleigh NC. After working out there for about 3 months, I noticed this gorgeous guy walk in the front door. I remember thinking, "Whoa, who's that?" He came over to where I was doing my pre-workout stretching and introduced himself. After asking around, I learned that he was a nurse at WakeMed, and that he was in a complicated relationship. So, out of respect for his relationship, our conversations were small and limited; but in the back of my mind, there was something about him that I couldn't put away. Since meeting Austin for the first time, I endured many failed dating attempts with other men and I decided that I was done dating. If God wanted me to be with someone, He would have to show me. That next week, in June of 2019, Austin walked into the gym, looked directly at me and smiled. I, of course, being the awkward person I am, freaked out and looked away. Later that week I found out that Austin's complicated relationship had ended and he had made a similar spiritual commitment. The rest, as they say, was history. I have never met a force like Austin in my entire life. His love and his impetuous pursuit knocked me off my feet and we fell in love. Looking back, all I can say is this, my favorite pick up line of all time is "Hi, I'm Austin".
In October 2019, Jourdan and I went on our first trip together just outside of Linville Falls, NC. During the 3-hour drive, one of our conversations led to the desire to get married. Mind you, we had only been dating 3 months. Despite the short dating period and the anxiety that I had been dealing with, I knew I wanted to make this woman my wife. Moving into December, I was itching to pop the question; but Jourdan asked me for "more time" so that we could work through our differences. We believed they could cause a lot of conflict in the future if we could not rectify them. Since the beginning of our relationship, Jourdan and I had made a commitment to pursue truth in accordance with the bible. After many conversations, prayers and 24 Bible study lessons, we decided we were ready to take on the world. For many, the year 2020 will be remembered as a year of illness, conflict and strife; but for me it will be the best year of my life. On May 2, 2020, I took Jourdan to "our spot." This is the place I put my arm around her for the first time and watched the sun set over Falls Lake. It was a spot that I took her many times after just so we could escape from the world and connect with one another. I was excited to get down on one knee; Jourdan made this process very difficult. She just wouldn't turn around long enough for me to have a moment to get ready to pop the question. Finally, I had enough. I pretended to get something out of my backpack, which was at her feet. Instead, I got down on one knee and asked, "Jourdan, will you marry me?" To which she responded in disbelief, "Nah ah!" Eventually she said, "Yes!" Year 2020 will be the year in which I fell in love with the woman of my dreams. She will become my wife and be the person with whom I laugh and cry. Jourdan will be the woman that pursues God's Kingdom with me and shares in life's joy and abundance.