August 30: There was a cookout at Encounter, a campus ministry we recently joined at the time. Ryan's Thoughts: Whoa... Who is that beautiful girl? "Hey Josh who is that?" "Oh that's Madison's roommate." I need to talk to her. *walks over* "Hey I'm Ryan. What's your name?" "Hi! I'm Kelly." *completely forgets to have a conversation because of nerves* "Could I by chance get your number?" *silence + a blank stare* "Uh yeah sure..." "Sweet thanks!" Kelly's Thoughts: *Living life* "Hey I'm Ryan. What's your name?" Uh who is this random guy? "Hi! I'm Kelly." "Could I by chance get your number?" What... Who... I don't know this guy. "Uh yeah sure..." "Sweet thanks!" Time goes by and many attempts are made by Ryan, but all of them fail. September 14: A Fall Retreat ran by Encounter started. Ryan was on the light pink team and Kelly was on the yellow team. Ryan's Thoughts: Hey there's Kelly. She's on Sydney's team. I'm kinda friends with Sydney. I'll try to hang out with them. Kelly's Thoughts: This Ryan guy won't go away. Ryan's Thoughts: I don’t think she likes me. Kelly's Thoughts: I think I kinda like him. September 15: Amazing services happen during the retreat talking about your core lies and what God says about them. Ryan's Thoughts: I want to turn my focus on God right now. Girls can wait. Kelly’s Thoughts: God is really working in Ryan. I can see him changing. I love the conversations we have. He seems like a great guy. That night Ryan decides to get baptized for the first time. Ryan felt like a failure and alone for a long time, but he realizes on this retreat that he is never alone and that God loves him for who he is. Ryan’s life was changed that day. September 16: Fall Retreat was over. Kelly had to leave early to celebrate her grandpa’s birthday, but stayed to watch Ryan get baptized. Ryan's Thoughts: I love God. Kelly's Thoughts: Thank you God for what you’ve done in Ryan.

Later that day, Ryan and Kelly talked. And again the next day. Then they went on their first date. Then a second. They start dating. Have their first kiss. Meet each other’s families. Tell each other I love you. Sign up as small group leaders together. Live life together. All in the meantime chasing God and motivating each other’s faith. And then comes February 15: We both were watching the Greatest Showman, eating brownies, and we stop. We just look at each other. “Do you want to get married?” “How did you know what I was thinking?” “It just came to me.” “Me too.” We both prayed to God in that moment. We asked for clarity on this because we know that this is a serious decision. We know we have only been dating for 6 months and understand we’re young, but we believe God put it on our hearts to get married. When praying for a timeline we both were told the specific date of July 27, 2019. We acknowledge that that is very fast to plan, but if God wants this, he can make it work. Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” At the end of the day, God’s will is to follow him and serve him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. And marriage was made to honor God and fulfill his will. We believe we can serve God better together.