From our own perspectives!

In September 2023, a friend invited me to a work Bible study. I remember thinking, “Wow, the guy leading this group really knows and loves the Lord,” and that was my first impression of Jonathan Cheeseman. The group meeting time was tough for my schedule, so I went back maybe once or twice over the next few months and Jonathan was never there when I attended. Around this time our groups merged at work, but our group was around 180 people and we sat in different buildings. These and a few other small connection points were happening where we were familiar with one another, but we didn’t really know each other. God is so cool in how He works! Fast forward to mid January! My good friend got engaged to Jonathan’s good friend(shoutout Maddie and Eric!), and there we were at their engagement party standing next to each other, listening to the story of how they met. After they finished sharing, we turned to one another and started chatting. We talked about running, reading, and Provinos Italian Restaurant. It wasn’t a long conversation, but it was fun and felt so peaceful and easy. That night I called one of my best friends and told her I was interested in Jonathan. The next week I got a Teams chat from him saying “Howdy howdy any chance you are at your desk and free for me to swing by rq?”. That conversation was not real quick, we chatted for almost an hour. It was again, so fun, peaceful, and easy. A few days later I swung by his cube and we had another “rq” chat. Towards the end of that day he came by his friend’s cube that sat close to me. I didn’t really think much of it. When one of my friends and I were packing up to leave, he walked out with us. When we separated from him I turned to her and said, “I have a crush on Jonathan”. In my head, I thought we’d keep chatting here and there and if anything happened, it would be awhile. I was wrong. 10 minutes later I got a call from Jonathan asking me on a date. That theme of fun, easy, and peaceful has continued throughout our relationship. He is truly the best man I know and my first impression of him loving the Lord was so accurate and just the tip of the iceberg of his character. He serves everyone he meets so well, is humble, thoughtful, hilarious, consistent, loving, joyful, and patient. We have had the most fun becoming best friends through hikes, a trip to Winder Barrow Speedway, running together, road trips, celebrating holidays with each others families, becoming friends with each other’s friends, weddings, a JC Penney Photoshoot, hangs at Chattahoochee Coffee, etc. etc. BUT I think what really stands out to me is the joy of just getting to do life together in the most basic of ways. I know God better through knowing him and I could not imagine a better person to spend the rest of my life with in marriage!!! April 25th, I can’t wait!

I met Eva at a Home Depals Bible Study in September of 2023. When she sat down at group, I was instantly attracted to her beauty and assumed she is a believer if she is going to a bible study. From that moment, I developed a crush on her, but I did not see her again for a few months… As the time rolled on, I did what any single guy with a crush would do once Halloween rolled around, I invited her to Crush-O-Ween (some friends of mine throw a Halloween party every year where you can submit your crush’s Instagram handle into their form and they will message them and say “someone has a crush on you, show up to Crush O Ween to find out who). Eva no showed LOL. Fast forward a few months and our teams at work merged. How could I walk over to someone’s cube and flirt?? Impossible... Our good friend’s, Maddie and Eric hosted their engagement party in mid-January 2024. I assumed Eva would be there and was excited to celebrate Maddie and Eric (shoutout) and, potentially talk to the pretty girl I saw in Bible study a few months ago. It was sweet celebrating Maddie and Eric. I found myself standing next to Eva. Now, this part is debated in our relationship, as Eva says we BOTH turned to talk to one another. I think EVA turned to talk to me… Either way, I really wanted to talk with her too, and we chatted about work, Provino’s and various other things. The conversation was easy, and my crush grew. The next week at work, I realized this was my chance to continue getting to know her better. I built up the courage and pinged her on Teams to ask if I could swing by her cube to chat. She said sure, so I made the long walk from C15 to D15. We chatted for ~45 mins (sorry Home Depot shareholders) about nothing related to work. It was awesome. A few days later, Eva came by MY cube. I wasn’t sure if she was just nice OR if she was also interested in me. I knew that day was my chance. I packed up my bags and walked over near Eva’s cube at 4:45p. I had a buddy who sat right across from her, and my plan was to chat with Kyle until Eva said she was heading out. Then, I would walk out with her and ask her on a date. Easy enough, right? A few minutes after I walked over Eva said she was heading out; I said I would walk out with her. Another girl said she would also walk out with us (noo). So, I did what any other young man would do who was interested in a girl. I called my roommate Graham once I got to the car and said, “dude, what do I do?”. He said to call her and ask her on a date. Sounded like good enough advice to me! So, I did. Eva said yes, and we went on our first date. The first date was incredible and so easy. I quickly realized that Eva is much more beautiful than I first thought. Her outward beauty is a shadow of the beauty that is inside of her. She is incredibly kind, loving, generous, funny and someone who makes others feel seen. She loves the LORD, has deep convictions and lives her life in a way that is joyful. I quickly fell head over heels for her. Through the Spring and Summer months, we spent time shooting the hooche, going trout fishing, hanging out with friends, using my year Stone Mtn pass, running, laughing, walking Rosie and spotting deer. And yes, still pinging one another on Teams at work (again, sorry shareholders). I realized that I would likely spend my life with Eva when I moved into the Chateau Monroe. A 4-bedroom house with my 3 best friends. In my note’s app, on the move in date, I wrote how excited I was to move into this house with my closest friends, but that life with Eva was better and the Chateau felt empty without her. Our relationship quickly progressed later in the Summer, and one day, in October while driving from her house to mine together, I asked Eva, “is there anything else you need to see from me for clarity on us getting married?” She said no, and I said, “Me neither, I would love to marry you.” Eva displays God’s love in such a tangible way. I love her deeply and cannot wait to marry her!