Allison and I crossed paths many moons ago in the summer of 2020. One nightshift I was accompanied on an elevator ride by a young, cute, redheaded nurse with no ring on her finger. Ceil blue scrubs and cheetah-print crocs never looked so good. So I broke the ice the best way I knew how and asked, “what floor?” She told me “3rd please” and that was it. Didn’t get a name or nothing. In the coming weeks we had a couple more unlikely run-ins and turns out not only were we both nurses but neighbors too. She told me she noticed me in my front yard with my dog. Time passed and I finally got a name — Allison. I met her friend Candace after needing help with a patient of mine. Little did I know that once I stepped away, Candace talked her up to a couple of my coworkers that said “Allison is a real sweet girl who’s into fitness and loves the Lord. And she’s single.” All of this was more than enough to peak my interest. It wasn’t until August that my mystery neighbor girl and I really got to know one another. I thought I was getting friend-zoned after she messaged me that she was stuck at home recovering from an ACL surgery and could use some help around the house. I convinced myself I was just doing a charitable favor after agreeing to take her grocery shopping one day. I’ll never forget being greeted with the sweetest and warmest smile I’d ever seen. Admittedly, she shot the first shot, but I will say that after a month of getting to know each other, I rushed out of the self-proclaimed friend zone and asked her to be my girlfriend. She’s a God-fearing, selfless, and intelligent woman with the best taste in music. She makes me belly laugh, and encourages me to be better, better because I get a first hand, front row seat to the Lord’s everlasting love and grace through the gift that is Allison. 6 months into knowing each other, I, without question, asked her to be my wife. And 7 months later, I’m going to marry her. We’re so excited, and we can’t wait to see you in October!

If I were to sum up my life with Joshua James, it would be nothing short of the sweetest answer to my prayers. From the beginning, I worked nightshift and started noticing Josh on several occasions walking in front of me into the hospital. One day we rode up on the elevator together, and I could sense his kindness and gentleness, two traits I valued in a potential husband. From then on, I labeled him as “my crush”. My best friends, coworkers, and mom knew about this mystery man. I saw him down the street from my house with his dog and was beside myself. I’m still in his phone as “Neighbor girl”. I had another run-in with him in clinical. I’ll never forget his leg and arm propped up on a vitals machine like he was cool. In late July I had ACL surgery, and while I was on leave, my best friend Candace told me that my crush came down to the Mother-Baby Unit. She told Josh’s coworkers about me, and we both convinced ourselves that he wanted to scope me out. After much convincing from Candace, I DM’d Josh on Instagram. Not even a week after surgery, I told my mom I was ready to move back home. Little did she know, it was because I wanted to see Josh even though I was dependent on her. The very first time we hung out, he showed up at my doorstep to take a girl he didn’t even know grocery shopping. I knew that day he could easily become my best friend. Josh had lost his dad and sister as well, and I know the Lord gifted us one another to provide each other earthly comfort. One day we drove up to Bham and stopped to see my sister’s grave for the first time. It was pouring rain, and the gravesite was hard to find. Josh so willingly searched through them all to find Lauren’s name with my subpar directions while I stayed dry in the car. This was just one moment that was so telling of who Josh is and why I want to marry him. He is selfless and loves me wholeheartedly. We are now double digits away from making a covenant before the Lord and all the people we love! I can’t wait!