Prepare for take off

I had been following Madison (@dear_single_woman) on Instagram for a little while before she began sharing Bachelor Ads on her Instagram Stories. A page that was generally used to encourage single Christian women was now helping Christian singles meet! (I honestly wasn't getting my hopes up LOL). I would check them out periodically, but no one ever really stood out to me until the day she shared Jason's profile. I remember he specifically mentioned that he was an Independent Baptist, that he was involved in his church, and he was involved in aviation. So I responded! Making sure to mention that I am also an Independent Baptist and involved in my church. A week later he reached out to me and we haven't stopped talking since! He likes to call May 13th (when we started talking) our "Instagramaversary." Jason flew from Houston, TX to Marion, IL to visit me in July of 2024. We went on our first in person date to Panda Express and walked around the small downtown square in Marion. While sitting on a bench I asked "so, are we dating?" and he said....."yeah, I'd say so." In September I flew to Houston and on September 19th he told me that he loved me (I said that I loved him too!). In December, we planned for me to go back to Houston for a visit. We even planned to get engaged during the visit! But shortly before, our Pastors encouraged us to wait a little longer and spend a little more time together in person. (We didn't know it at the time but that would be the best thing for our relationship!) I still went to Houston for a visit during Christmas and instead of getting engaged we decided to go on a Mission's Trip to Uganda with my church. Jason flew to Illinois in January and we flew to Uganda with a group from my church. We learned a lot about each other during that trip (during the highs and the lows!) but we made it through! In March, Jason flew to Illinois again and we road tripped to Ohio together to meet family and friends from my home town. Shortly after this trip we were given the green light to move forward! I flew back to Houston in May of 2025 and on May 19th we got engaged! We are now jumping full on into wedding planning because August 30th is in 3 months! I would like to shout out Madison one more time. If you are a Christian Single, whether you are looking for encouragement or you are looking for your spouse (or both!) go to Instagram and follow Madison's pages: @dear_single_woman and @saved_singles.

I've always been hesitant to look for love online and honestly believed it would be more trouble than it was worth. However, what I discovered is when God's hand is in something, nothing is impossible. It started with a nudge from a friend, someone who knew me well, and someone who was much more familiar with social media than myself. Emily first invited me to an Instagram page called Christian Connections by loveispatient2024. I was reluctant at first and for quite some time since the whole concept seemed alien to me, but as time drew on I felt a tug on my heart to consider the possibilities and to at least try. So I did, and time went by with no new developments. Then she invited me to try a Facebook group called Godly Christian Singles which I also joined, but barely ended up using. As it happens though, Bethany also joined this group and I liked her post which celebrated her joining group. Even still, time went by with neither of us making the first move and it seemed joining that group was a dud for me. Then Emily sent me another Instagram page to follow called Dear Single Woman by Madison and invited me to post my profile for Madison's bachelor ads. For at least a week I followed her page, but held back from sending her my profile to post. Eventually, there was a post she had made commenting on a followers statement that essentially if a man was interested in a girl, he'd make the first move. I was compelled to comment knowing personally that this is not always the case. Madison soon replied to my comment and encouraged me to send her a profile for her to post in her bachelor ad. I was still reluctant, but I felt that tug on my heart again and so I prayed and asked God for a clear sign if this is something He would want for me. I asked God if this was His will, please put it on a girl's heart to show her interest in me in a clear way. Amazingly, thirty minutes later I received a message from a girl who saw my profile on the Christian Connections and expressed her interest in getting to know me more. I had my answer and I knew that God was with me and would guide my path. Newly encouraged and emboldened, I prayerfully took each next step. The girl who reached out to me was not Bethany, and it did not go past the first days conversation, but I still had my answer from God and I knew that my next step was to make a bachelor ad profile for Madison to post. A week later I had my profile ready and sent to Madison, then another week after that I had multiple responses from ladies who were interested. It was overwhelming, but also extremely encouraging. I spent another week reviewing each of their responses, checking each profile, and praying for guidance. Finally on May 13th, 2024, I knew which girl I'd reach out to first. Bethany's response was the most detailed and on-point to my profile post, including things like how she too is an IFB Baptist, very involved in her church, loves Jesus, and enjoys performing special music for her church; just like me. We matched more than any others that I could see. Though I was nervous, I reached out to her and our first conversation began. After a flurry of earnest questions and wonderfully honest answers back and forth through messages, we eventually ended the day with a phone call and a conversation that would leave us excited for the next day's conversation, and then the next day's, and the next, and every day since. This of course led to our first meeting to where she resided, in Illinois. Then to where I live, in Houston. Back and forth we took trips to be with each other, all the while talking every day and growing closer and closer, and with God's hand with us every step of the way. This of course leads us to this moment we've been looking forward to for so long, but never knew for sure would happen until now. The moment Instagram messages and flights back and forth will turn into living together and taking flight as one.