From both perspectives

I was new to the online dating scene and had not had any luck. Prior to putting myself out there, I asked the advice of Sarah Foti, who had married my best friend and become like family (I would be remiss to not give her the credit for pushing me to put myself out there like I promised on that night, so thank you Sarah!). Not having any luck in a month, I tried a different app, Upward, a christian dating app. Right away I did not like how the app was set up and didn’t expect to stay on it very long. I came across one profile though, Kacie. Many times I closed the app and reopened it because I was too scared to “like” her profile but also didn’t want to lose the opportunity. When I finally sent the like we immediately matched! I didn’t expect much conversation based on past experience (especially from a woman of her caliber) and I’m not very smooth with opening lines, so I said “hey, I didn’t know you could actually match with people on here.” Apparently that was enough for her to respond and we started talking. I eventually mustered up enough courage to ask her to go out with me and obviously she said yes. The first date we went bowling and hit up a hibachi place afterward. Driving back from the first date, my mind was racing about all the things we could do together. At the time I was pretty interested in becoming a better skydiver. I thought it would be so cool if we were able to jump out of a plane together, and I swear on my life, at that exact moment I looked out my driver’s side window and saw something burn up in the sky. It wasn’t a shooting star, and I don’t believe in signs like that, but I told myself “if this works out, I’ll never forget this drive home.” The next day I drove from Auburn Hills, MI to Buffalo, NY to go to a Buffalo Bill’s playoff game with my best friend. While driving through Canada, I got a text from Kacie saying that she had a great time. This made me fist pump so hard in my car, I have never been so excited. Since that first date, we have spent all but a handful of weekends together. Long distance is not ideal, and we were fortunate the distance was not crazy far, but we both put in the effort to make the other feel wanted and secure in our relationship. We have enjoyed many things together; skydiving, a Nickelback concert, a Michigan football game were all things that we were able to share with each other while becoming closer. I knew I wanted Kacie to be my wife before too long and had to remind myself not to get too far into planning our future together. She is honestly the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, with the most captivating smile. She has always showed me how much she loves me, is a constant encouragement, and pushes me to become the man that God has me to be. This engagement period has already been great, and planning the wedding might be a little harder than I had originally thought, but I could not be more excited to call Kacie my wife!

I also was not a big fan of the online dating scene, but a good friend of mine convinced me to download the app called "Upward". I didn't take it seriously until the beginning of January last year, which was when I matched with Micah. At the time, we lived about an hour and half apart; I was in Ohio (boo, go blue!), and Micah was in Michigan. I knew he was serious and intentional in his pursuit of me because for our first date, he drove the entire way down to go bowling and grab dinner after. We were both extremely nervous, but the conversation flowed really easily. The next day I couldn't wait for him to text me, so I texted him first and told him that I had a great time. The time between when I sent that text and when he responded back felt like an eternity, and I kept hoping "please let there be a second date!" Luckily for me, there was! A second date, a third, a fourth, and well, the rest is history! In the last year of knowing each other, Micah and I have made some incredible memories together. He took me skydiving for the first time which was an unbelievable experience, we went to see my favorite rock band, Nickelback, in concert, went to a Detroit Tigers game, a Michigan Football game, and made several long road trips to and from NY singing along to Maroon 5 and talking about what our future would look like together. Just like every girl does, I've patiently awaited the day that the man of my dreams would get down on one knee with a diamond ring and ask me to marry him. Micah planned the most beautiful proposal, with a hand-made heart out of hundreds of rose petals set up on the beach at sunset. He tricked me into thinking we were just going out to dinner that night, but once he told me we were making a quick pit-stop at the lake he grew up going to, I had a small feeling this was it. Although I can't recall everything he said to me in that moment (c'mon, I was in shock!), it was the best day of my life --- so far at least! Several months prior to meeting Micah I decided to make a list of characteristics I wanted in a husband/partner so that I could pray more specifically for him. Once I got to know Micah, I quickly realized that he checked every single box, and then some. He is the most kind, thoughtful, and selfless man I've ever met. Till this day, he still blows me away by all the ways he loves and cares for me. I can't wait to marry him, and to continue to experience all that this life brings as husband and wife!