forever & amen

Taylor and Josh originally met the first week of college at a Young Life College freshman event. It was August of 2020 and everyone was wearing masks, leaning in closely to try to hear the person speaking and wondering what the lower half of their face looked like. Across the Point Cafe's courtyard, Taylor and Josh made eye contact and slowly gravitated towards each other. After an awkward exchange of names, home towns, and majors, Josh managed to get Taylor's phone number and they ran into each other the following days at different ministry events. They went on one date in that fall and it was, well, awkward. Taylor refused to let Josh buy her breakfast and Josh swears that he knew instantly that she could see right through him. Although Taylor swears they both decided to not pursue the relationship at that point, it was really just her. However, when they got placed on the same WyldLife team in November of 2020, which had a very specific rule to not date fellow teammates, they weren't sure if they would ever pursue it again.

During the following Summer, Josh and Taylor found themselves reconnecting in a way that was more meaningful than their year at school together. They were a part of a small group that was from Colorado or stayed during the summer and they found themselves together often. Josh followed the Lord's voice and sent Taylor a letter, expressing confusion and frustration with the Lord's guidance, wondering if he, Josh, was misunderstanding his role in her life. Taylor, on the other hand, hadn't given it much thought since the previous fall. However she suddenly found herself desiring connection and to be known by Josh. When she was at Crooked Creek Ranch for Summer Staff, she kept wondering about how she could share what the Lord was doing with Josh and how his kindness might linger in her heart. The Lord flipped her heart for him upside down unexpectedly and what might have seemed like attention-seeking infatuation was really a deep sense of Josh's Belovedness and the value of being in communion with him.

The idea of dating--not just each other but anyone--was really, really scary for the both of them. Taylor had never had a real boyfriend before and anyone that gave her attention wasn't really interesting in loving her whole being. Josh had been in relationships, but often found himself hurt in the end and having to untangle lies in the process afterward. They both really, really wanted to run away. What was happening between them seemed real, Holy, hard, vulnerable, and intimate...and it was terrifying to them. Taylor was hanging out with their friend, and former are director, Michele Conrad when she said "...or I could just end it before it goes too far and I end up hurt and alone." Michele's response was, "You could for sure, but it's clear that this is what the Lord is asking you two to do. He may not be your husband (ha!), but if the Lord is asking you to date him it is making you more of who He has created you to be. If you want to be who the Lord has created you to be, then you have to obedient." It was, what she claims, one of the best things that anyone has ever said to her. So instead of running away from Josh, she echoed the sentiment and the desire to become who the Lord has created her to be and they shook hands on being obedient even in the face of fear.

Fast forward two and a half years and we arrive at April 28th, 2024. This past school year, Taylor and Josh were a part of Crooked Creek's Wrangler Program, which is a volunteer program that supports the retail team over the weekends. It was their final weekend up at camp for the school year and KQ, retail staff extraordinaire, sent an email out asking for people to bring nice clothes to take pictures to "promote the program." Even though she still didn't think it was happening, Taylor's roommate, Alyssa, managed to get Taylor to pack her all white denim jumpsuit that she told everyone she wanted to get engaged in. When the work for the weekend concluded, retail intern Will mentioned some wildflowers up on the frisbee golf trail. Stubbornly Taylor protested going to look at them because she was tired and ready to go home, but Josh took her keys and convinced her that it was worthwhile. Josh spent the walk telling her about the first time that they met and how he loved her, and suddenly some flowers on a trail appeared. Josh walked her the flowers, got on one knee and asked the question, and Taylor immediately got a bloody nose. It was beautiful and Holy and clearly just what the Lord intended.