"Ladies, write a checklist of things you want in a guy. One, if it all gets checked, God gets all the glory. Two, if you don't have a checklist, you'll fall for anyone who comes your way." 10 years ago, I heard a sermon on this and over the years, I've added on my checklist one after the other. I had boyfriends that checked most but not all. 3 years ago, I gave up on meeting that person. My checklist had so much specifics that it would be impossible for one guy to have it all. Plus, I didn’t think God really listens to me. Over a year ago, I was on a dating app and met this guy online. I wasn’t interested cause I thought he was a church dork. He kept asking to meet and I kept saying no. I got tired of making excuses so I rejected him saying I’m busy the whole summer. Before summer ended, he pursued yet again asking if I’m still busy. He kinda got brownie points for waiting an entire season. But mainly, I felt bad for him so I decided to meet up for free drinks. Little did I know, God has been working to pursue me back. 1st, 2nd and 3rd date happened within a span of ONE WEEK. By the 3rd date, I told my friends I’m marrying this guy. The checklist that I gave up on was checked all the way through. I knew this was the hand of God at work. Every single time I hug Kevin and hear his heart beat, I am reminded that God loves me. He chose and raised this man for me, checking even the unwritten, unspoken desires that I didn’t get to put on my list. He hears my prayers, he sees my heart and he will not give up on me. And the biggest thing that gives me joy and peace at night is this: this marriage has God’s blessings all over it.

I moved back home to Seattle in January 2021 during the pandemic after spending the better part of a decade in various cities. During the time I lived away, dating apps were becoming the norm in how couples were meeting each other. I was using the apps on and off but I was never optimistic about meeting anyone that I was compatible with. When I came back, I decided to the apps another shot and a short while later I saw an attractive girl come up in my feed that liked my profile. Now she will tell you that she has no idea how she hit the like button and that it must have been divine intervention from God, but we all know she couldn't resist my smile and witty profile. We began messaging on the app and I suggested that we exchange phone numbers. She said no and sent me her Instagram handle (probably to increase her follower count). I took the bait, and we began direct messaging there. After a bit of time chatting, we decided on a whim to meet on a random Friday night. In a very peculiar turn of events, she canceled on me only an hour later and said she was going to be busy for the rest of the summer. She's playing hard to get *cue the Hi-Five R&B classic*. Again, she'll tell you that she was trying to get rid of me, but I know that she was only trying to play the game. Fast forward to the end of summer, I send her another message to see if she wanted to get together. She is not the only one that can play the game, am I right? As I suspected, she agrees to meet for dinner -- and that, as they say, is that. We had a great time talking about any and everything, went bowling, and ended the night having a couple drinks with some friends. On a more serious note, God's fingerprints are all over our relationship -- from the early days to today. I had decided to be up front with my many shortcomings and faults, yet Lena still chooses to be with me. I can't wait to grow old(er) together and could not have asked for a better life partner than her.