forever & ever, amen

I first met Celeste on September 16, 2022. I had just moved to Dallas to attend DBU and a new friend invited me to bishop arts to watch some live jazz, he called his friend Celeste to join us since she was in the area celebrating her birthday with her sister Lilly. He didn’t know he was setting us up and we didn’t either. I was dating someone else and thought she was just a nice girl joining me and my friend for jazz. Over the next few weeks I would get closer with their friend group, which included my best friend Jonathan. They would regularly invite me over to play video games, watch movies, and talk for hours. In the next few months, I would go through a break-up that God used to place close friends like Celeste in my life to help me find joy and happiness, and find the importance of deep friendships in college. On February 12, 2023 after the Super Bowl I remember thinking of how much I valued Celeste in my life and began to think what an incredible partner and companion she could be. I realized that my feelings of friendship with her pointed to her beautiful attributes and quickly made me realize how I wanted her to be more than a friend in my life, on February 14,2023 she also realized how she liked me too! (This also came with lots of talks and hopes from Jami the team mom, who has been in our corner the longest!) In early March, I asked Celeste out, and we went on our first date a few days later! On March 28, we went on 50's style date to the roller skating rink and a nearby diner! I of course, could not rollerskate and lost all points of impressiveness that day but, had the sweetest and most memorable date ever! After two years and lots of saving, I decided to make it official, and that I could not imagine my future without this amazing woman by my side every step of the way. One thing I left out about our first date is at the end of the night we rode on the Dallas M-line trolley. With the help of Lilly and lots of planning on June 12, 2025, Celeste met me right where it all began, on the M-line trolley with the same white hydrangeas. Since our proposal, I am so enthused to be engaged to the most special and incredible person I have ever met. I cannot wait for March 28, 2026 when she officially becomes the love of my life for the rest of my life…….love you so much Celestey❤️

He was the safe guy in the friend group, the funny guy with a girlfriend back home. The guy we all went to for boy advice, good stories & endless laughs! He spent most of his free time over at 10A, where we would cook for him & make him watch rom-coms with us. As time went on, we got to be close friends. I admired his heart & character. I began to look up to him in a lot of ways, not just as a friend or follower of Christ but as a boyfriend (which while silly, it was unique to see him like that without it being with me). My aunt Jami (whose house was the friend group’s safe getaway place) would always ask why none of us had swooped up sweet Hudson, but the response was always “Hudson?! No! He has a girlfriend!!” Until he didn’t have a girlfriend anymore… He & I spent a lot more time just us two, going to concerts & coffee shops. For a while, he was just Hudson, my dear friend. I loved him but it was purely platonic. But then, one day (valentine’s day at that) he gave me this look. It sent a shiver down my spine & I immediately knew something was up. Days went by & “not-dates” took place. I was falling hard for this guy, my best friend. I had all the thoughts & questions like “Was it too soon? What if I am just reading into this all wrong? What if it doesn’t work out?” One night, after a long hard day at work, he told me to essentially find someone else to go get a late-night snack with. I was crushed. But anyone who knows him knows, he loves a dramatic moment. I walked outside, and there he was standing there with my favorite flowers & the sweetest speech prepared for me. To this day I don’t remember anything other than “will you be my girlfriend?” But second to him asking “will you marry me?” That’s the most over the moon I’ve ever felt. We spent just over two years laughing, watching all the shows & seeing all the concerts! We’ve spent time with each other’s families, learning how to love each other well & soaking up all the things the Lord has taught us. Now, shoutout to Lilly, one of our biggest cheerleaders! It has always been so important to me that Hudson & Lilly were close, & the proposal story showcases just that! Lilly & I had a sister nail day & museum visit planned. I didn’t wake up that day thinking I was getting engaged, but as the day went on, little things happened that make my eyebrows raise. We both spent the day ‘playing it cool’. Me trying not to overthink the clues or get too excited, & her trying not to crack and give anything away. My suspicions were heightened when she said “what If we took the trolley to the museum?.... Let’s go on the one at 2:40pm & park in this parking lot” Now, if you know how Lilly & I operate, she is not the one making the plans or even the type to be as precise as she was being…. But knowing that, I responded “awe that’s where Hudson & I rode around for hours after our first date!” The trolley pulls up & there he was trying to hide with the same white hydrangeas. I burst into tears. They got me. I have loved every minute of being Hudson’s girlfriend, & now fiancé! I can’t even imagine what it will feel like to be his wife!!! We have learned so much about life, Jesus & each other & I am just so in awe of God’s goodness in every season of our relationship. Hudson is all things gracious & patient & loyal & generous. Until him, I didn’t fully comprehend what it meant to be loved so fully by someone, the way Jesus does. Tearing up writing this, because I get to marry the love of my life! & celebrate with all of the people who love us & are for us!

Song of Solomon 2:16