Wouldn’t you know, we met in the most unexpected way. I wasn’t even looking for anything special when I came across his profile. He had such a kind face that I couldn’t help but reach out. The next day, I got a message: ‘Hello, you seem different.’ That caught my attention! We started chatting, though he would sometimes go quiet. Normally, I’d move on, but something about him made me stay. Eventually, we exchanged numbers, and our conversations turned into late-night calls and voice memos. The first time we spoke on the phone, I was struck by his gentleness and kindness—I felt instantly at ease. From there, we talked every day, then every night on FaceTime, leading up to our first date (which you can read about below!). And today, we still talk every single day.

I was planning to be in Austin for a concert with my brother, so I suggested to James that we meet up that same weekend. It was a great halfway point and a fun city to explore. He agreed, and I asked him to plan a date—nothing extravagant, just time together. To my surprise, he made an itinerary. That’s when I knew—he was a keeper. Our date was perfect. James picked me up at my brother’s apartment, and we started with lunch before heading into town for ice cream. We wandered through the city, stopping to take photos in front of murals, and simply enjoying each other’s company. Later, we visited a scenic overlook at Lake Travis, climbing up the rocks to take in the beautiful view. It was there, in a quiet moment, that James asked me to be his girlfriend. Of course, I said yes! We celebrated with boba and some window shopping before heading to my favorite Indian restaurant for dinner. But the best part of the evening was yet to come—James had planned a sunset boat ride on Lake Travis. The weather was perfect, and the evening felt like something out of a dream. We ended the night with great conversation and a drive back to my brother’s apartment. I couldn’t stop smiling for a week—it was the most thoughtful and special day.

That morning, James and I went to church, where the sermon was about marriage and being aligned as a couple. It felt so fitting, and I jotted down the key questions to reflect on later. That afternoon, we had planned a picnic—something we both love. What I didn’t know was that James had already decided this would be the day he proposed. He tried calling my mom once to ask for her blessing, but when she didn’t answer, he sent her a message, determined to go through with his plan. As we sat together, enjoying our meal under the open sky, I brought up the sermon and we talked through the questions. When we finished, James smiled and said he had a gift for me. He handed me a pair of delicate stud earrings, and I immediately put them on, admiring their beauty. Then, leaning back on one arm, he said, ‘I think they’d go well with this.’ He sat up on one knee and asked me to marry him. I froze, my heart racing. ‘Seriously?’ I whispered. He nodded, and my eyes filled with tears. ‘Yes, of course!’ I said, my hands shaking as he slipped the ring onto my finger. We held each other, soaking in the moment, the world around us fading away. Then, James pulled out a video he had recorded the day he picked up the ring—a glimpse into his heart and how much this moment meant to him. It was everything I had ever dreamed of—simple, intimate, and filled with love.