I have found the one whom my soul loves

My mind was only on Chaucer and Latin conjugations that day. Armed with my notes, well-loved books, and Common Grounds latte, I was determined not to be swayed in my studies. Until he burst in the door. A military haircut but a kind smile, he warned my study room of friends that he was locking the doors to St. Peter's—our Catholic student center at Baylor—but we were welcome to stay and keep studying. Suddenly, that was the last thing I wanted to do. Chaucer abandoned, the rest of the evening was spent in side-splitting, joyful conversation with this new stranger. I thought it would be a flash in the pan. Surely, one conversation wouldn't change anything. But in the ensuing days, he brought me dinner between finals and a coffee for a tough paper. At the end of the week, we were the last two in St. Peter's after prayer. I asked him who is patron Saint was; he said St. Joseph. I asked him why. He said he desired to be the caretaker, the protector; the paradoxically strong, and yet tender, man who stood behind his wife and children to shelter them while they all aspired for holiness. It was in that conversation that I knew that I would settle for no less than this. This was no puzzling Latin translation. Michael knew, without ever being taught, how to speak the language of my heart. A few months later of sweet and chivalrous friendship, he finally asked me on a date. I don't think even Chaucer could've written the wild story of deployment, graduations, long phone calls, novenas, Zoom dates, and infrequent hugs that ensued from my "yes" to our first date. But the rest is history. And I can't wait to give him my greatest yes yet.

I worked part-time cleaning and locking up our church at night when I was in college at Baylor. As I moved through the study rooms one night, I happened across the most beautiful girl, busily plugging away at homework on her laptop. We struck up a quick conversation, joined by some of our other dear friends, that soon became an hours-long affair. Casey and I were fast friends and in the ensuing months it became more and more difficult for me to hold back the feelings I had for her. As our friendship grew, I realized more and more that she was exactly the kind of person that I had always dreamed of being with. While we dated for about a year, I knew within the first few weeks of our relationship that she was the one for me. Every step of our relationship has been an adventure, and I cannot wait to start this next chapter with her.