‘We’re getting married!’

Once upon a time in early 2024, Lucas and I met at the climbing gym. We both needed a partner to climb outside one chilly March day. Lucas was chipper and extremely excited to climb outdoors. He seemed so nice and sure of himself and he became a fast friend. Initially, I just thought of him as a friend. But he kept showing up in my life. He makes kombucha, climbs, rides his bike everywhere, likes to walk to the bar and back no matter how far it is, and on occasion, would swing by my work when I'd be working late or invite me out. We talked about God, our families, and what we thought about life post-covid. Turns out we had a lot in common. I just didn’t know how I felt about him until he went to Hawaii on his annual family vacation. This nice guy was going out of town and all I could think was, ‘I think I’ll miss him’. In his absence, I started thinking this nice guy is really interesting and maybe, just maybe, I want him in my life as more than a friend. The funny thing is, even with him gone, he texted and updated me everyday about his swimming and snorkeling adventures. Which got me thinking ‘maybe he likes me too?’. After he came back from his trip, we picked up right where we left off. Looking back, I believe Lucas chose me long before I actually chose him. He’s a faithful and loyal man, who is steadfast. Over the past year, I gradually returned back to my faith following a difficult period marked by personal challenges and health issues. This shift was driven by a desire for renewed purpose and connection during a time when life felt increasingly overwhelming. Being in a relationship with Lucas has led to significant personal and spiritual growth for both of us. One of the most meaningful aspects has been growing together in faith, which has brought a deep sense of peace. It's been encouraging to witness consistent commitment—attending church regularly, engaging with Scripture, and making faith a shared priority. In fact, Lucas is on track to reading through the entire Bible by the end of this year! His steady presence, thoughtfulness, and unwavering care has made a lasting impact on me. While the journey to this relationship wasn’t easy, it’s proven to be deeply rewarding. Sarah and I met through friends at the climbing gym. We were both looking for a partner to go climbing outside with for the first time that year. It was a beautiful day with some awesome climbing. We started climbing more at the gym together and then spending more free time together. It slowly evolved into the relationship we have today. We have spent a lot of time apart but it has brought us closer together. I was able to spend three months checking an item off of my bucket list, hiking the Pacific Crest Trail early on in our relationship. I was able to complete about two thirds of it. Sarah would send all my food to the next post office I would be passing and I would call or text when I had service. She always included a note with my box of food telling me about what was going on in her life and the feelings she had for me. I would send some post cards back to her telling her how I felt about her, what I had done that week. I couldn’t believe that she was willing to support me for that long seeing as that’s how long we had been dating before I left. Once I returned, I started attending church with her much more regularly and diving into the bible. Sarah has encouraged my relationship with Jesus an incredible amount in the time that I have known her. Always encouraging me to pray and attend the bible study at church. We’ve had some rough patches but we always came back to the Lord and each other. We have grown so much together and I am so happy that the Lord brought us together.