an introduction. a nickname. a friendship. a student conference. nightly FaceTime calls. We became the best of friends. We bonded over our mutual love for the Lord, worship, old TV shows, history, and adventure. We talked about our dreams — the realistic and the unrealistic — and all the things we wanted to do in life. Crazy enough, all paths kept somehow intricately intertwining with each other... in a way only God could design. I friend zoned him, and he continued to respectfully pursue. Each day he showed me he was willing to wait for me. And he did, until I so clearly heard from the Lord by way of Eli’s voice that it was time to take a step of faith into what God had promised for me earlier in the year. In a quick turn of events, we started dating on September 21st (yes, cue the Earth, Wind, & Fire song). We fell completely in love with each other. It all seems so fast from the outside, but I can genuinely say I’ve never felt so in the center of God’s will. Knowing that Eli was going to leave soon for Marine Corps bootcamp, we decided we wanted to get engaged before he left. December 12th, 2019, he planned the sweetest night. We went to all the places we went on our very first date in August, and he ended the night with asking me to marry him. On January 6th, 2020, Eli left for bootcamp, and he’s set to graduate on April 3rd. So proud of him, and his determination to become a United States Marine! After his graduation, he will have a 10 day leave, during which we will get married! He will leave the following week for SOI training. After this, we’ll finally get to be together wherever he’s stationed! Thank you all for the love and support, it truly means the world to us. Our story is a fully God-written one, and one that truly reflects His grace and faithfulness in our lives. It’s our mission to share it with others so that they may come to know just how sweet our Heavenly Father is!