It was a warm May night at The Porch in San Marcos, Texas, and I was there to celebrate my friend Adele’s birthday. Adele and I had been friends since we were 11, and she was also my college roommate so this night was special for more reasons than one. Adele’s brother’s brass band was playing music and the sound of it filled the air, mixing with the laughter and chatter of friends. Everyone was dancing and soaking in the warmth of the Texas evening. Meanwhile, a few doors down, Mitchell and his roommate Colin were planning to grab a burger at JAX, a popular burger joint nearby. Colin knew all of us, and had no idea we were celebrating Adele’s birthday at The Porch. When Mitchell and Colin found JAX closed, they made their way over to The Porch, drawn in by their more expensive and more delicious burgers. They didn’t expect to walk into a birthday party, but that’s exactly what happened. When Colin showed up, it didn’t surprise any of us – he was part of our friend group. What did surprise me was the handsome man standing next to him. That was Mitchell. It was hard not to notice his athletic stature and height, and I remember feeling butterflies in my stomach that took me by surprise. I took a moment, before introducing myself, and quietly asked God if I should go over and introduce myself. Almost instantly, I felt that nudge in my heart, like God was telling me, "Go for it." I walked up to him, feeling that mix of nerves and excitement. As we started talking, one of the first things Mitchell asked me was, "What church do you go to?" It was such a simple question, but at that moment, it felt like it carried so much weight. I knew, right then, that I liked him. The conversation flowed easily, and as we talked, it felt like everything else in the room faded away. I had called my mother later that evening and said words I never thought I would say so soon "Mom, I think I met my husband tonight." What I know now, that I didn’t know then, is that Mitchell and I had grown up just 10 minutes apart. We went to different high schools but attended the same church and have countless mutual friends from all over Austin. We even ran in the same circles for years, but somehow, we kept missing each other. It’s almost unbelievable how many times we could have crossed. A month later, I decided to take matters into my own hands. During the summer, my roommates and I had a tradition of hosting “Family Dinners” at our apartment, where everyone would bring a dish and we’d spend the evening eating, laughing, and catching up. I invited Colin, and very strategically asked him to bring Mitchell. I made it sound casual, but deep down, I was hoping for another chance to talk to him. That night, Mitchell had planned to ask me out on a date. He tried to separate me from the group for a moment, but I didn’t pick up on his hints at all. Every time he’d try to pull me aside, I’d get distracted by something else going on. But even though his plan didn’t work, his helpfulness and kindness during the dinner only made me like him more. He was always nearby, asking if I needed help with the food, offering to clear dishes, or making sure everyone was taken care of. It wasn’t just his attentiveness—it was the way he made himself part of the evening so naturally. His thoughtfulness stood out to me, and by the end of the night, my feelings for him were even stronger. Later that week, Mitchell asked for my phone number and called to ask me out on a date to Putt Pub, a local putt-putt place. Our date lasted six hours, filled with laughter, easy conversation, and a connection that felt effortless. It was, without a doubt, the best last first date I’ve ever had. Now, as Mitchell and I prepare to get married, I look back on our story and see God’s hand in every little detail. What started as a celebration for Adele, turned into the beginning of our love story. A story that began with a chance encounter – or maybe not so much by chance after all -Haleigh