It was a regular night of pickup volleyball. I was obviously excited to play and thought nothing else of note would occur. I couldn’t have been more wrong... After many witty and snide remarks were exchanged through the night between myself and this fellow named Jay, he casually offered to let me know when another volleyball group of his was playing. Always eager to play, I snagged his number and thought nothing else of it. I texted him when I got to the car to ensure I would be at the top of his list to play. His response: “You were fantastic.” Right there and then I knew he was not only interested in playing volleyball. Back and forth texting till 3 am eventually resulted in me inviting him to go to my favorite two-stepping dance hall, and truthfully that was that. Sweet dates to the Dallas Symphony, zoos, Painting with a Twist, two-stepping, MANY volleyball games, introductions to new foods, and many other outings, I was enamored. He opened every door, listened to all the daily drama that occurred at school, and was endlessly patient and encouraging with my ongoing health issues. After months of denial, the Lord kindly softened my heart to fully see the gift He had given me and I have never been more at peace. There was not an exact moment that I knew I loved Jayle. It was the ongoing acts of selflessness, intentional pursuit, and countless other things that drew me to him. I am overjoyed and thankful for the lifetime of adventures Jayle and I have before us!

It was a Friday evening on January 5th when I received an invitation to join a volleyball game. Excited and unsuspecting, I had no idea that this ordinary event would lead to meeting the love of my life. As I arrived at the court, I found myself assigned to a team filled with strangers. We started playing, and about twenty minutes in, something extraordinary happened. Amid the game, one of my teammates began dancing to the music playing in the background. Her carefree moves caught my eye, and suddenly, I felt a jolt—a sensation that felt almost divine, as if the Holy Spirit was urging me to talk to her. With a rush of boldness, I decided to make my move. In the middle of the game, I turned to her and asked, "Does your boyfriend know you dance like that?" She looked at me with a playful smile and replied, "Which one?" In that instant, I knew I had to get her number. From that moment on, everything changed. What began as a casual volleyball game turned into the start of an incredible journey and a lifetime filled with adventure. I remember the exact moment I realized I was in love with Klara. It was one of those evenings we spent playing volleyball together. Earlier that night, we had cooked dinner—a delicious spread of honey garlic chicken, mac n cheese, and green beans. Running late, we left some of the food out, still in the pots and pans, as we rushed off to our game. We returned to her apartment late, tired but happy. As I set down her volleyball gear, I glanced into the kitchen. There she was, casually eating the leftover mac n cheese straight from the pot. It was such a simple, unguarded moment, and I was completely infatuated with her. I knew I would spend the rest of my life with her.