We're Getting Married!

It all started on June 6th. I was in Ocean City for an evangelistic trip with my church for the week, and Cami was only able to make it for one day. On that one day during the evening, Cami and I got paired together to go out on the boardwalk and evangelize. We didn’t talk much, until later in the night when we ended up both taking a break. We sat on the boardwalk eating some Thrasher’s Fries, and I struck up some conversation about how we both went to the same co-op as kids. At some point in the conversation, I asked how old she was, and very unfortunately did not hide my surprise when she said 23. My mouth was agape. I had thought she was my age because we had taken a class together, but I was wrong. My poor reaction, of course, prompted a poor response from her, and gave us a bit of a rocky start. With that in mind, it won’t come as a surprise that we didn’t hit it off immediately. After OC, we texted and talked sometimes at young adults, but nothing was consistent. Everyone told me we should get together, but I brushed them off, usually saying “I wouldn’t date someone older than me.” As you know reading this, I was dead wrong. The first time we hung out for real was when we both were invited to the same hangout to play mini golf and have dinner. I demolished her at golf, but I made sure to be encouraging and help her at times. After golf, we ended up sitting across from each other at dinner, and I couldn’t help but notice how pretty she was. Stunning even. Absolutely gorgeous. I couldn’t look away. That night, we hit it off. Talking all dinner I came to the even better realization that she wasn't just beautiful, but she also had a lovely heart. We shared a lot of interests and hobbies, and everything seemed to click that night. As I drove home I asked God if this was the woman for me. After that night we talked more on and off until finally I invited her to play soccer together. I was going to ask her out on a date to go hiking, but it unfortunately started raining when we finished playing. Instead I invited her to go bowling with me and my friends, but I didn't call it a date just yet. Next week I invited her to come with me to Lizzy’s birthday party, but again I didn't call it a date. We danced together (much to my embarrassment as I am not a good dancer,) and after sat in a hammock together as she died from her allergic reaction to Lizzy's cats, and I did my best to help. Every night now I prayed, asking if Cami was the one. I would soon have my answer. On august 8th, 2025, I invited her to one of my soccer games, and afterwards asked if she wanted to go get dinner with me. The only place that was open was Waffle House, so to Waffle House we went. We talked for hours, and thats when I was certain. She was kind, gentle, caring, smart, determined, beautiful, and above all she loved God more than anything. I drove her back to her car and after a bit, I confessed my feelings. She laughed. Yep. Full on belly laugh directly in my face. I was devastated but I continued on about how I felt. She quickly comforted me with the words I hoped to hear, "I like you too. A lot." I soon learned that she laughed when she got nervous, explaining her reaction. We talked into the early morning until I finally asked "Will you be my girlfriend?" and she happily said yes. After an amazing year of growing closer to God together, going on beautiful hikes, and learning more and more about this simply fantastic woman, I'm ready to say "I do."

The night of June 5th there was a crazy storm, and my basement was completely flooded by June 6th. After fixing that, we realized our freezers were not on, so we needed to set up the generator. Because my dad was out of town it was just me, my mom, and sister. This all took us about an hour and a half. At this point I did not want to go to OC even a little bit. Thankfully I knew that I needed to go no matter what. God had set that in my mind and I will forever be so grateful that I did not take the easy way out. After going out on the boardwalk with my mom, sister, and another older, man we went back to rest and assigned new groups. The new groups that were assigned just so happened to include me and Elliot as a team. I noticed this but ignored it. Later I would find out that this was all a plan made up by Brooke and Andrew McClean. At first I didn't like the idea of someone trying to match me up with anyone. But after a few hours of watching Elliot evangelize and talk about the love of God, I started to catch feelings. Later in the night I found out he was 19. This stopped me for a second but the next day I planned to bring him up to my mom, except when I did she said “That fetus?” and that was the end of that for a while. My eyes would always follow Elliot whenever he was around, though I tried to pretend I didn't care because I believed he was too young for me to like. At this point Brooke was actively working to get us together. She gave me his number once when I asked her to ask him when volleyball was. This lead to me ending up about an hour away from home in a thunderstorm calling and DMing him about the volleyball night. He ignored my call and did not see my DM’s until I was already at the court. This opened up the texting which was led by me. The mini golf date was a key turning point for us. This is where I knew for sure he liked me back. I already knew I liked him, but after this day I couldn't pretend anymore. He put our names next to each other on our own score card. He placed first and I placed last! Every time I couldn't get the ball to go into the hole three inches away from it he would kick my ball in for me. I finally let this fact sink in after the third time he did it. We all ate at Texas Roadhouse after mini golf, and being the gentleman he is, he offered to pay for everyone. He jokingly blew his straw casing at me multiple times through the night. From the OC experience and how attractive he was spreading the good news, to the tender way he acted towards me at the mini golf course, coupled with his strength of character and his way of putting others first there, was no way for me to not fall in love with him. When he invited me to go to his alumni soccer game I was so excited. For the two days leading up to it, we didn't see each other and I was dying. He confessed his feelings for me late that night after we ate at a waffle house, and I laughed at him out of nervousness and an overwhelming feeling of joy. I had prayed that the Lord would allow me to have his heart and entrust me with it, and He answered that prayer with a yes. I will forever be grateful and baffled that such an outstanding individual --who also happens to be unbelievably handsome-- is the perfect fit for me. This and a whole lot of other fantastic spirit-led experiences has brought us where we are today soon to be one!