We're Getting Married

Although they officially met several years ago, Crystin and Casey actually grew up attending the same church as kids. They didn’t know each other back then but their paths were already crossing in small, unseen ways. About eight years ago, God began gently drawing Casey back to Himself. Through quiet nudges from coworkers and a friend from church and high school, he found himself returning to church after a long absence. At the time, Casey was struggling with his understanding of the Gospel, while Crystin was already faithfully attending. Their paths finally intersected when the pastor invited him to join a small group that Crystin was part of. Through that group, he began to truly understand the Gospel. As the group grew more comfortable with each other, their friendships deepened, and they began spending time together outside of their regular Sunday night meetings. Over the years, Casey's friendship with Crystin continued to grow—though always in a group setting. Everything changed in July of the previous year. They went on a beach trip with another couple, and for the first time, Casey saw the potential for something more between them. Ironically, this realization came just after Casey had applied to teach English in Hungary for a year. A couple of weeks later, another pastor encouraged him to ask her out. He finally did, in August 2024. As their relationship blossomed, the decision about moving to Hungary drew closer. They talked about what it might look like, and Crystin was supportive. On the Sunday after New Year’s, he formally inquired about the next steps for the move. But in the days that followed, his heart was in turmoil. For three days, Casey couldn’t eat, think, or focus—only pray. And in that stillness, Casey realized: he loved her. He continues to thank God for bringing Crystin into his life, knowing they could serve God together.

May 2, 2025—a day like any other, yet so much more. It was the culmination of countless small moments that led to one life-changing question. But let’s rewind a bit. On April 19, while riding the train to a race at Rockingham Motor Speedway, Crystin and Casey were reminiscing and joking. She told him she had thought he might propose during their life group’s Easter egg hunt, convinced he had hidden the ring inside a special egg only she would find. It was a creative and clever idea—better than anything he had planned at the time. He laughed and admitted that he had almost brought the ring to propose at the race, joking, “I got my rock at the Rock.” Later that same day, while they were at the speedway, his mom called. She and his dad had found a Hungarian puzzle box. The moment she mentioned it, he knew that was it—that was how he would ask for Crystin’s hand. Fast forward to the day of the proposal: Friday, May 2. They had planned a cozy movie date night. He ordered Wingstop, and Crystin came over for dinner before the film. Sitting on the counter was the puzzle box. After they ate, he showed her the box and asked if she could figure out how to open it. Grinning like a kid, he watched her twist and turn it with curiosity—though her greasy hands from the wings made things tricky. Eventually, he helped her a little. When the box opened, it was empty. Laughing, Crystin joked that she was going to lock the key inside as a prank. His heart skipped a beat—because there was still a secret compartment she hadn’t found. He quickly pointed her toward the mirror on the box and gave it a gentle nudge. Behind it was the ring, carefully wrapped in a note that asked the question he’d been waiting to ask. And she said yes. The rest is yet to be. Praise the Lord.