I first remember seeing Joe's picture as a prospective student on the wall of the recruiting office in Summit. Then, we became Facebook friends. By the time school had started, he'd cut his hair and I didn't even recognize him. He was quiet and didn't say much, but his brown curly hair caught my eye right away. I was on track to transfer schools after semester, so I convinced myself I wasn't gonna find the right guy before leaving. I told God if He wanted me to be with someone, *that* someone had to come to me, and make his intentions clear. My mind felt a little at ease when I found out Joe was talking to someone already. I was bummed, but it was easier not having an option right? Not even a week later, another student told me Joe was single again. I got excited, but I tried to keep it to myself because I really wanted to make sure God was leading my every step in that area of my life. As time went on, our friends caught that he liked me. I still hid I liked him. I prayed and journaled every night to make sure I was liking Joe for all the right reasons. Before too long, everyone knew how we felt about each other, but neither of us had the guts to make the move. Until, the day before Valentine's Day, the Summit boys dressed up and performed a surprise song for all the girls. When the song was over, each boy gave each of the girls a rose. Joe gave me a rose and a letter. A letter that told how Joe felt about me and that he wanted us to get to know each other. I wrote back a letter the next day saying I liked him too. For the next week, we texted into the wee hours of the (morning) laughing 'til we couldn't breathe. Then Joe asked me on our first date to Cappuccino & Company. It was kind of awkward driving to the coffee shop, but then we got there and talked for 4 hours. I wanted another date. I wanted more time with this guy. I talked to God for a long time that night and cried happy tears. I knew God brought me Joe for a reason.

In January of 2021, I moved to Western Nebraska to go to school at Summit Christian College. Before I met her, Gracie sent me a friend request on Facebook, and I noticed by her cover photo that she was really pretty (like REALLY PRETTY). The first time I met her in person, she played her guitar, and sang, and looked soooo pretty, and I figured out real quick that she was WAY out of my league. I decided that I was going to focus on school and not chase a girl who was leaving for a new school next semester. Well, that lasted for a week. When I was around her, I was enthralled with her beauty and personality, and when I was away from her, my thoughts were with her. I didn't think that I had a chance in the world, but I knew that if I didn't try, I would always wonder what would have happened if I did. So, I began scheming a way to win Gracie's heart. Valentines day was coming up quickly, and the boys in my dorm and I were already planning to do something sweet for the girls, so I decided to take my chance. We decided that we were going to play a song for the girls on the day before Valentines as a surprise, and I was nominated to play my guitar and lead the singing; the guys even let me pick the song! So I practiced our song every day with butterflies in my stomach each time. I decided that after we played the song, I would share my feelings with Gracie through a letter I had written and a rose. February 13th finally came around, and I strummed my guitar and sang "Stand By Me" with all of my heart...while looking at the ground, trying not to throw up all from the nerves. I got through the whole song, walked over to Gracie, and gave her the letter (without ever looking in her beautiful eyes). Then, I proceeded to run back to my dorm room and wait for a response (the longest 26 hours of my life!). When I got a letter back from her on Valentines day, I was happily surprised to find that it was not a rejection letter, and that is where our beautiful story started.