(11/21/2021, arriving at the OK airport from Brazil.) I remember the sweetest and most beautiful smile, Meredith’s whole face was smiling! It was winter, and that smile somehow warmed me. As the weeks went by, I saw how she was dressed in empathy, an empathy that made me feel accepted, & not only me but all of those around her. I couldn’t look her in the eyes, it made me feel like a 12 year old boy, afraid of her noticing the deep admiration that I had for her already. I attended a small group at her house, and she would always arrive home late from work on those days. When the meetings were about to end, I heard the sound of the door opening, and there she was, beautiful and vibrant, coloring the space. I loved talking to her after those meetings, what a brilliant mind, what a big heart, what an incredible person! I would return home, vibrant by the colors and emotions we shared. I started to realize that maybe all of that admiration and longing to know her were actually feelings for her. I ran to God asking him to take that cup away from me! I didn't want to risk losing my friendship with her, and thought those feelings would never be reciprocal. I wish I could see God’s face when I had my crises, praying and asking him to take it away, He was probably saying: “Just receive my son!” I was able to surrender, pretending that feelings weren’t there, but my heart grew in admiration of her friendship, always excited to be around her, to watch her dance, to dance with her, to do ministry together, to pray for each other, to share hard things, to encourage and be encouraged by her. What a friend, what a heart. Everybody should have the honor of meeting Meredith! Months passed and our friendship became sweeter and unique. We traveled to teach in PA, on my birthday! What a way to celebrate my birthday! Spending my whole day with Meredith Grace Jacob! There we got to do a duet to the song, “I Don’t Know Anything” by John Mark Pantana. I could completely connect that song to her. I prayed over that song during my time there, not understanding anything but enjoying the beauty of feeling. I stopped fighting it, but promised myself not to try to “make things to happen”. On our last day we got to have some quality time. Lots of laugh, lots of joy, lots of kindness, empathy and warmth. Oh what happened after that? In a simultaneous action we ended up holding hands! My heart was about to explode, I could not breathe. We didn’t talk anymore. We didn’t look at each other. She laid her head on my shoulder, I laid my head on hers. The beauty and purity of touching her hands for the first time, knowing that everything that I was feeling was fully reciprocal.

From the beginning, Lysion’s kind heart and contagious laugh swept me up. He is like God put every good thing into a person – it’s almost too good to be true. If you know him, you know what I mean. Some of my first memories with him are just laughing together at everything - from him having no idea what swing dancing was as we were partnered for it and being filmed, to the time he told a story that had me crying on the floor clutching my stomach, to sharing silly glances in rehearsals every chance we had. We were best friends for what seems like my whole life, even though we’ve only known each other since November of 2021. I don’t remember what life was like before him and I’m glad I’ll never know life without him. I remember realizing that I really liked him when we went on tour to Florida. I thought it would be an easy thing to shake off, as it went against everything I thought. Dating a boy in the same dance company? Cliche. Dating in the same ministry? Bad idea. The only boy in a group of ladies, who would be so desperate? I’m sure God was laughing at me. My feelings only grew as our friendship did. I felt ridiculous, consumed by thoughts about him all the time, wishing that every moment I had, he could experience too. I started praying that God would take it away as if love was a silly thorn in my side, never expecting him to feel the same. Then everything changed one summer day in PA:] We had been traveling together all summer, and it was our last night teaching at an intensive for a close friend. Knowing that we had to leave in the middle of the night, and that we’d be apart for weeks, we tried to squeeze in every minute we could. I came downstairs to bring him something he'd “forgotten”. Here there was a moment from the angels above where our hands came together. We sat in silence for what felt like forever, holding hands, relief and sweetness and peace flooding through. I felt like I was in 5th grade. I can’t say much has changed from this moment for me.

Very long story short, we officially started dating September 5th, 2022. Lysion asked me with a trash bag full of roses and a glimmer in his eye, “do you wanna date me?” and we laugh about it to this day. It took her far too long to answer, because she was laughing so hard, in her cute blueish dress. I was wearing the weirdest clothing, an OCU blue hat, with a shirt that had 4 skeleton ballerinas pretending to be dancing the “pas de quatre” from Swan lake, and gray skinny jeans. After a while, she hugged me laughing and said the most beautiful answer that I was hoping to hear: “Yes!” That yes changed our whole world. God started to do a deep work on both of us, placing us on a journey of growth, dreams, tears, challenges, and hope – lots and lots of hope. We have since traveled to 3 countries and many states together, dancing and sharing the joy Jesus has given us. A dream neither of us knew we wanted to share. We’ve both gone from having little interest in “marriage” to having the easiest yes of our lives be to spend them together. After one year and almost 3 months of dating, something great finally happened – our engagement day, sweet December 2nd, 2023! I could feel the butterflies moving all around inside of my body, I could feel the weight of a step that would change my whole perspective of life. I heard the Lord clearly challenging me to do that step of faith proposing to her. No money, no perspective of how tomorrow would be, only faith, a dream, and the cutest ring in my pocket. This day brought a similar response from me, my “yes” coming long after my laughing and my tears. I knew he had the ring, I knew it was the day, and I knew my life would change forever. Usually I have a difficult time making decisions, but this is the one thing I think I’ve known from the start. Beautiful and exciting and so very scary, as all good things should be. Nothing went as either of us planned and everything was perfect. There are many things that are untraditional about our entire lives, and it has been a long journey with help from so many we love to get to this day. We are so excited to share our love in a commitment with our God and before all of you who mean so much to us. Thank you for being part of our lives, in whatever way that may be. We are who we are and where we are because of all the people along the way. Love, Meredith & Lysion