It's always been you.

Some love stories begin with a fairytale moment. Ours? It started on a flag football field in 2017 Leeson and I first met at an intramural flag football game at FIU. From the moment the game started, he was loud, persistent, and everywhere on the field. Little did I know that same guy would one day be my fiancé. A year later, we crossed paths again this time in a Christian group on campus. We were both seeking a deeper relationship with God, not realizing He was weaving our paths together. That fall, Leeson got baptized, and we both ended up living in the same apartment complex. One of his roommates was dating one of mine, which meant he was always around. And while he claimed he was just there for cookies, let’s be honest—nobody believed that. Lee’s POV: I used to tag along whenever my roommate went to see his girlfriend, which meant I got to see Cass too. Now, just to clarify I was definitely there for the cookies. Or at least, that’s what I told everyone. Truthfully, I just enjoyed being around Cass. Then, in 2020, everything changed. COVID forced Cass to move back home, and I didn’t realize how much I’d miss her presence until she was gone. I thought about our friendship constantly, and it hit me—Cass wasn’t just another friend. She was someone I didn’t want to lose. When she moved back to Miami, we weren’t neighbors anymore, but that didn’t stop me from making sure we stayed close. I asked her to set aside Mondays just for us, and what started as casual meetups quickly became my favorite part of the week. Cassey’s POV: During that time, I saw something deeper in Lee. His heart for God, his pursuit of growth, and his willingness to learn made me admire him in ways I hadn’t before. At the same time, he saw something in me according to him, it was my faith, my heart for others, and (probably) my ability to make the world’s best cookies. Eventually, the same guy who annoyed me on the football field was now the one I was falling for. Lee’s POV: We started dating, and our relationship was filled with adventure, deep conversations, and unforgettable moments. But after a year together, we made one of the hardest decisions one that was Spirit-led. We broke up, not knowing if we’d ever find our way back but trusting that God was leading us. For over eight months, we walked separate paths, growing individually, trusting God’s plan. Then, just as only He could orchestrate, we found our way back. Everything we had been through, every challenge, every lesson it all led us to the truth we could no longer deny. Cass’s faith and resilience continued to inspire me. She has this unshakable trust in God, even in uncertainty. Being with her has helped me grow into the man God has called me to be. Cassey’s POV: One of the hardest seasons in our journey was walking through the loss of my mom. It was a time of deep grief, but through it all, Leeson never left my side. He prayed for me, supported me, and reminded me of God’s faithfulness. That season shaped us, strengthened us, and proved that love isn’t just about the good times it’s about standing firm in the hardest ones, too. Lee’s POV: Cass's unwavering faith, seeing her walk through sorrow with such grace and faith- without a doubt- she was the women I wanted by my side for life. I planned a treasure hunt proposal (Cass loves a good scavenger hunt), leading her through clues and challenges until at the very end waiting for her, was me—with an important question. Cassey’s POV: On December 1st, with tears in my eyes and joy in my heart, I said yes. Yes to forever. Yes to the journey God has written for us. Yes to the man who once annoyed me on a football field but, in the end, was always meant to be mine. And now, as we prepare for our wedding day, we know one thing for sure: God’s hand has been on our love story from the very beginning. No matter where life took us, no matter the trials we faced, no matter the time we spent apart—it was always you.