If you had told me that I’d meet my future husband at work, and that we would not like each other at first, I would’ve politely told you, you were crazy and gone back to my color-coded planner. Daniel and I met as coworkers. I was working on my Master’s degree, very Type A, very by-the-book, and deeply committed to rules, processes, and doing things “the right way.” Daniel was stepping into a leadership role as a business owner—vision-driven, persuasive, and allergic to the word no. Where I saw policies, he saw possibilities. When I said, “We can’t,” he said, “Watch me.” Naturally… we were enemies at first LOL. But as Proverbs reminds us, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17), and God apparently thought we needed some sharpening. Over time, our other coworkers came and went, departments changed, and leadership turned over. Somehow, through all of it, Daniel and I stayed. We climbed the corporate ladder in different departments, bonded over terrible bosses, and learned how to lead with integrity when it wasn’t easy...or rewarded. We laughed through the stress because sometimes laughter was the only professional coping mechanism available. But behind the scenes, and when we went home, we were both hurting. Daniel was walking through a new divorce, stepping into life as a single dad, and carrying more shame and sadness than he ever let on. I had finished a Master’s, Specialization, and continued to keep completing certificates, but still felt I had nothing and no purpose. Both lonely in a crowded room—successful on paper, unsure of what was next, quietly wondering why doing everything “right” still felt so empty. Turns out, we were both a little mad at God… and desperately in need of Him. In the darkest seasons of our lives—we decided we had both had enough of the toxic relationships, work exhaustion, and moments where hope felt thin. Hope recognizes hope. We started talking about wanting more than meetings and calendars. More than what social media told us was “Success”. More than ‘Keeping Up with the Joneses’. We talked about wanting to come home—to faith, to family, to a life that didn’t revolve solely around money and our social calendar, but around who we were coming home to. God never left us. We had just drifted. Through health scares that forced us to slow down. Through a miracle baby that reminded us life is a gift. Through two incredible kids who healed our hearts in ways we didn’t know we needed. God rebuilt us—slowly, intentionally, and with grace. We chose new jobs that didn’t ask us to compromise our values. We let go of pernicious people. We chose silence and grace when whispers and lies started to form about us. We invited our families back into the center of our lives instead of squeezing them in when we weren’t busy. We learned that success without peace isn’t success at all. “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). Now, We are best friends, but most of all teammates, leading our family with the kind of love that chooses each other daily—on good days and the really hard ones. The kind of love that builds, heals, and laughs… a lot. Now, as we stand here planning a wedding, we know this story was never just about us. God was writing something bigger—for our kids, our families, and anyone who needs to know there’s hope after heartbreak, peace after chaos, and joy on the other side of surrender. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him” (Romans 8:28). Our story isn’t perfect. But it’s redeemed. And it’s just getting started. 🤍