It's a cool Thursday night in Pittsburgh, PA. The date: October 13, 2022. James, after moving to Pittsburgh just over a month before, bikes to Pitt's Heinz Chapel for a weekly worship night that his campus ministry (UCO) puts on. Emily, back in Pittsburgh from Roanoke, VA for a long weekend, decides to attend said worship night as an alumnus. After joining in singing and then listening to a talk, our characters (whether by divine intervention, their choice, or just dumb luck, we cannot know) are placed into the same discussion group. He is shocked that someone so attractive could speak with such wisdom. She finds herself equally enamored with him. As the night wraps up and the group moves to a pizza bar, Fuel and the Fuddle (may it rest in peace), Emily ensures that she and James are sitting across from each other. The connection was instant. They spend the evening laughing, talking, and sharing stories. Others sat at the table, but James and Emily mostly ignored them. Each was simply too focused on their future spouse. Eventually, the night comes to an end and James walks Emily to her car. Intimidated by the prospect of dating long distance, she gets in and drives away without either having exchanged phone numbers. Over the course of the next few weeks, Emily realizes she can't stop thinking about James. Meanwhile, James doesn't think of Emily at all. In fact, he wasn't thinking of anything after a collision while playing basketball. His head hurt. Unaware of this incident and dealing with an unrelenting crush, she reaches out to James's roommate and coworker, Joel, to ask him to pass her number along. He doesn't. At least not right away. The couple is still unsure what caused the delay, but finally on April 27th, Joel passes along Emily's contact. James, in talking to another friend, Joe, about the situation, receives strong encouragement to call her up and ask her out since she is joyful, fun, and personable. So, he does. And he soon learns Joe is certainly correct. They go on their first date on May 13, 2023, at De Fer, a coffee shop in Pittsburgh, when Emily is home for another weekend for Mother's Day. Once again, they are overwhelmed at one another's sense of humor, love for others, and love for God. They had a really good time. They had such a good time, in fact, that they didn't even wait a day before going on a second date. After a fundraising event for his ministry, Emily invites James to walk through Duquesne University's campus. They sit on a wall overlooking downtown and spend multiple glorious hours sharing stories and learning more about each other. They also laughed a lot again. Two weeks later, Emily is back in Pittsburgh and James jumps at the opportunity to take this wonderful, beautiful, joyful woman out on a few more dates. They eat at Totin's Diner, walk around North Park, and visit Phipps botanical garden. Again, laughter, joy, and a deepening of a relationship ensued. Two milestones were reached at Phipps: James proposed that he and she go steady, and he asked if he could hold her hand. She graciously accepted both propositions. James got butterflies. And so, a couple was born. Over the course of the next nine months, James and Emily fell madly in love. After several hikes, dozens of cups of coffee, and hundreds of phone calls, James was convinced that this was the girl to spend the rest of his life with. Emily knew much earlier, apparently. So, he got a ring, talked to her parents, and made plans to propose. Then, on the 17th of February in 2024 at Hotel Roanoke, James got down on one knee, professed his love, and asked Emily for her hand in marriage. Again, she graciously said "yes". Celebration ensued. Said celebration has continued as this couple routinely recalls how amazing it is that they get to be with one another and look forward to a life spent by one another's side! Praise the Lord for His good plans and His great work in our lives.