As many of you know, Dillon and I met when we both worked in the Admissions Office at Southwestern Seminary. I had been working there for about a year but had to leave for the summer. When I came back, Dillon had swooped into the open admission counselor position that I wanted. Being fairly competitive in life and games (that will come up again later), I just remember thinking that I hoped this new guy knew that I had seniority. The second thing I remember thinking about him was that I didn't like his moustache.

After 9 months working together, I left the office for a summer mission trip, which Dillon (and many other coworkers) had graciously supported me on. Before going on that trip, I didn't have any conscious interest in Dillon but I remember telling my mission team members all about my amazing coworkers, including my funny friend Dillon. Little did I know what the Lord had planned when I got back. During the summer, God had done lots of things in Dillon's life, and moved his heart towards me. So when I got back, Dillon, being a man of action, wasted no time in expressing his interest. Though more hesitant, I was surprised to realize that I liked him as more than a funny friend. Meanwhile, I moved to another job and put together a day to share about my mission trip with all of my admissions friends. Unfortunately (or fortunately as the case may be), all my other friends ended up being unable to go, so it was just me and him! We went to a coffee shop, talked all about my trip and life. We discovered that we both had six siblings and we both loved Frankenstein. On the way back, he told me that he was glad we could do this, because he had been hoping to ask me out, and did I want to go out to dinner with him sometime. Even though I knew he was going to ask me, I was so excited! And of course I said yes!

At 6 o'clock, Dillon picked me up for dinner and we drove to Grimaldi's for pizza. Though we are both foodies, we were both so nervous, we barely ate. After dinner, we had gelato and sat talking for a long time. That evening, Dillon told me that his goal for our relationship was to first learn me, then lead me, and lastly love me (a good alliteration from a future pastor). From that very first date, I have been so blessed by the way that Dillon intentionally and sacrificially pursued me throughout our whole relationship.

For my birthday, my roommate (shoutout Bre!) organized a wonderful dinner out with my friends and invited Dillon along. At the very end, Dillon offered to drive me back and I was so excited because I figured it was the perfect opportunity for him to ask me to be his girlfriend. Sadly, he did not, in fact, ask me to be his girlfriend. I was upset by this for about a minute after he dropped me off, but then remembered how trustworthy and wise he had already proven himself to be. I knew he wasn't just going to string me along or keep me waiting longer than necessary. A few days later (on my actual birthday) we were studying together and he suggested we go on a walk together. Unfortunately for him, we ran into our friends (shoutout Alyssa), who teased us about not "officially" being boyfriend and girlfriend. Soon after that Dillon led me to the gazebo on campus and it was there that he asked me to be his girlfriend.