In the heat of the Covid-19 pandemic (still in progress), Charity and Andrew met on the dating app, Coffee Meets Bagel. They talked for a few weeks, answering questions about perfect days, interests, and family trips. Charity remembers being intrigued by Andrew's love for knowledge, moth man, and his motorcycle, more affectionately known as his "hooligan machine." Andrew remembers: A conversation...a real conversation, not how's the weather talk, but getting to know someone talk. Andrew remembers how Charity would talk about her passions with a big smile or reminisce about her grandparents. He also remembers and still loves meeting a person with a passion for food who is willing to eat adventurously. They went on several dates before deciding that the timing wasn't right, and chose to part ways. 5 months later, Charity reached back out to Andrew and they picked right back up where they'd left off, with sour beers in hand and delicious home-cooked food. Their quirky personalities led to conversations about vermicomposting (look it up), and creepy backyard toads, and so many nights of non-stop laughter.

Charity's passion for vegetable gardening quickly rubbed off on Andrew. Together they built two raised garden beds from scratch. Andrew remembers Charity's squeals as she used an electric saw for the first time to cut the wood and the joy on her face as tomatoes, pumpkins, and cantaloupes began to sprout and spread over the beds. Charity remembers watching Andrew nerd out on all the science behind fertilizer and developing a plan to engineer only the finest design for the bed. The garden added so much meaning to their relationship. They learned that, like gardening, relationships take constant work, fertilizer, and intentionality in order to make them thrive. By the end of that spring they were both ready to say, "I love you." I am not sure how Charity left out the most important parts, but Andrew remembers several dates to the most romantic place in town...The Home Depot. He remembers seeing that Charity has a fierce passionate side for the things that she cares about when her plans for an organic garden slowly turned into a full-on pesticide war on the bugs eating our precious pumpkins. Andrew also remembers (and still experiences) the morning "Garden Pics" text and seeing how happy Charity is seeing the videos.

Their shared love for food, God, and animals, led to intimate family dinners, double dates with friends, a slew of Tuesday night dates on the couch to binge-watch Stranger Things, a little hand-holding, and warm snuggles by the fire place (often rudely interrupted by Charity's cat and dog). A little over a year after reconnecting, Andrew led Charity to Tybee Island in Savannah, GA. Andrew had planned to propose on New Years Eve, but couldn't take his nervousness any longer and decided to do it a day early. That night, Andrew suggested they go for a walk along the beach. Upon arriving, Charity was overcome with joy and and in true Charity-fashion, started obsessing and squealing about the stars and the constellations. Charity insisted that Andrew pull out his phone and use an app to identify Orion's Belt and Canis Major . Andrew knew he couldn't let another moment pass before asking Charity a question. Unfortunately, Charity was so into the stars that she didn't even realize he was trying to propose! After shining his flashlight to reveal the most beautiful ring, she caught on and quickly gave a very certain "Yes, of course I'll marry you!" and a "What took you so long???"