Squish's version: I knew I would fall in love with Elysia if we became friends, so I tried to keep my distance. It was best for both of us. I didn't need to fail again, and she didn't need to be let down again. Don't get me wrong: she was gorgeous. It was hard to look away. I saw her character. She was the office assistant at the church, but she was also on the worship team--and when she wasn't singing, she was running sound. She posted the social media. Most of all, I saw who she was through her daughters. It wasn't just that they were precocious. They were thoughtful, hilarious, creative, brave, and generous. They were also medically needy. I couldn't understand how she did it all. I had to know her, but I didn't really want her to know me. I was no good for her. I kept waiting for my past to catch up to my present and scare her off. Surely it would be too much eventually, and I just wanted to rip the bandage off. She was unimpressed. She didn't leave. The opposite: she kept getting closer. I have no idea why Elysia was single when we met. She's not anymore. "A wife of noble character who can find?" Technically, she found me. But the rest is all true: "She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life." Elysia's version: Chris walked in to the Table Community Church one Sunday in April of 2023. I was working there at the time so I was setting up for our worship service when our pastor enthusiastically greeted someone and called me over to meet him as well. He was dressed in all black, seemed very reserved, and lacked a smile. I decided then that I was going to make him smile. It became my mission when I would see him at church. I found myself testing how much he would let me in during our table discussion and I was able to call him out a few times. I wanted to hear what this guy had to say. A month or so later I nominated him to lead a small group to which he countered with me co-leading. I don't believe it actually led anywhere but to a friendship that happened quickly. We found ourselves texting each other regularly, trying to see who could out do the other with past history stories. Spoiler alert - we didn't scare each other off! We found comfort and safety in the space that we created and learned that we were a work in progMESS. Chris met me at Target one night and told me how he felt. I sat there and took it all in and for once in my life, I was speechless, which didn't do much for how he was feeling. We later joked that we should get married at Target since it was a place where we first shared our feelings for each other. Since then it's been a wild ride. We've gotten a lot of things wrong but the one thing we've gotten right is putting Jesus at the center. It's a constant reminder of how loved we are by Him.