Our story begins with two people who had all but given up on dating. Separately, they each downloaded a dating app called Upward—an app centered around their shared belief in God and a desire to make faith the foundation of their future relationship. After just a few days for him and only three hours for her, they came across each other’s profile. His first thought was, "I wish," and hers was, "Only in my dreams." They swiped right—only to discover it was a match. In pure shock and surprise, they opened their first conversation. Almost instantly, it was clear how much they had in common. They soon decided to meet in person for dinner. The perfect halfway point between them was a little Mexican restaurant in Woodbridge, VA, called On the Border. That Saturday night, they both drove to meet, consumed with nerves and prayers that this might be the real thing. As his massive, blacked-out truck pulled up, she looked to the sky and begged the Lord that he was the one. (It’s since been confirmed—she fell in love with the truck first.) They stepped out of their vehicles. His breath was taken away at the sight of her, and she silently prayed, over and over, that this was finally it. That night, they laughed and talked over dinner. One meal turned into almost four hours. When they walked back to their cars, neither wanted to leave. With a single kiss, they went home—filled with joy and butterflies. They continued messaging back and forth, quickly planning another date in downtown Fredericksburg, VA. Strolling through the charming historic town, they stopped for a slice at a small pizza joint called Benny Vitali’s, known for its 28-inch pies. As they walked through downtown, a woman stopped them and said to him, “Your wife is absolutely beautiful.” Smiling, he replied, “Thank you, I know.” They both laughed, knowing the woman would never have guessed it was only their second time seeing each other. They ended the night standing on the rooftop of a building, watching the world pass by beneath them. Their third and fourth dates were spent meeting each other’s families. His parents met her before they went hiking in the reservoir behind his home. Her parents welcomed him at their house before heading to the mall. Both families quickly saw the deep connection they shared. After meeting her parents, the couple took a trip to the Leesburg Outlets in Leesburg, VA. After wandering through shops, they stopped for a quick snack at Auntie Anne’s Pretzels. Sitting down, she noticed he was quieter than usual and asked what was on his mind. What she didn’t know was that he had been working up the courage to take the next step. He took her hand and asked her to be his girlfriend. With tears in her eyes, she said yes and hugged him tightly. From that day forward, they saw each other every weekend and on Wednesday nights, when she’d drive to see him after work. They felt like they were on top of the world. As the spark between them continued to grow, they both began to long to say the words they hadn’t yet spoken. One night, as he walked her to her car, the night sky lit only by the moon, he looked down at her and finally said the words he’d been holding in: “I love you.” Tears filled her eyes as she said them back. At that moment, they both knew—everything had fallen into place. Over the next two years, they traveled back and forth to be with each other, took weekend trips with their dogs, and spent cherished time with family. Then came the next big step. Without her knowing, he bought a ring. After speaking with her father on June 7, 2025, he took her hand on the front porch of her parents’ house, knelt down on one knee, and asked for her hand in marriage. With an overwhelming “yes” and many tears... The rest of their story begins now.