It all began on a warm June evening at camp meeting. We both attended a church service with our families, but aside from a few glances and polite smiles at dinner afterward, we hardly spoke. Little did we know, that moment was just the beginning. A month later, our paths crossed again. After a fire night church service, a mutual friend invited Ethan to grab food, and as luck (or divine intervention) would have it, I was there too. Between laughter, jokes, and late-night stops at Applebee’s and Denny’s, something just clicked. Not long after, Ethan visited his family while they were working at Salty Summer Camp. He found himself talking with them in the kitchen—right where I suddenly decided I wanted to have dinner, too. That simple moment opened the door to Ethan becoming a youth leader, and from then on, we were inseparable. After every church service, we spent time with our close-knit group of youth leaders, sharing conversations, laughter, and unforgettable memories. One Sunday, Ethan’s family invited me and a friend to go flower picking at Cannon Farms. As I gathered flowers, Ethan carefully cut and selected the perfect ones for my bouquet. It was in that moment, surrounded by sunlit fields and delicate blooms, that I finally let go of my denial—I had fallen for him. From there, everything felt so natural. Our friend group filled our days with fall adventures, cozy movie nights at my house, and late-night hangouts at Wawa. On November 4th, Ethan asked me to be his girlfriend, and from that moment on, our love grew effortlessly. With a strong foundation of friendship, we fell for each other completely, knowing without a doubt that the Lord had brought us together. Every quality we had prayed for in a future spouse, we found in each other. On February 1st, Ethan made our forever official, proposing at my Uncle John’s house in Monroe, Louisiana. The ring he placed on my finger is an heirloom from my beloved Nettie, a symbol of love that has already stood the test of time. Surrounded by family and friends who have blessed and supported our relationship from the very beginning, we feel as if we have been together forever—and in many ways, it feels like we were always meant to be. We can’t wait to start this next chapter as husband and wife, knowing that our love story is only just beginning.