we're getting married!

Right before the March Madness that ensued during the COVID-19 Pandemic, I remember thinking to myself, how am I supposed to date when we're going to be isolated? Living alone in my Raleigh apartment at the time, I thought it might be time to download a dating app or at least meet people online to pass the time. I had dated in the past, usually meeting people when out with friends but nothing ever stuck. Right before the shutdown, I matched with Nick on Hinge. I didn't think anything of it, chatting with a sweet boy from day to day; once the world got back into a rhythm, we decided it was safe to meet. I remember watching Nick get out of his car at my apartment the first time. He was so easy to talk to, made every adventure fun, and we had so much in common! At a time that was supposed to make us feel isolated and alone, the pandemic only grew our relationship. We'd work from home during the day and then want to have dinner together at night, spend weekends watching movies, taking walks, working outside, and watching different church sermons. We realized that we had grown up only 7 minutes away from each other, attended the same church gatherings, concerts, and youth groups, ran in similar friend group circles, and never met until now! I truly feel like meeting Nick when I did was a nudge from God. The story of how my parents met that my dad has drawn out for me over and over played in my head. How do you "know when you know?" The truth was that I didn't "know," I trusted. I didn't "plan for it," I prayed for it. Every time I was around Nick, things felt simple, I felt safe, I felt like myself and it was like being with my best friend.