Matt and I's story of how we met is one of my favorite to tell! It is not a typical one, though it shows how the Lord truly works ALL things out. It was August and I, (Courtney), was in a "year of singleness" until April. Funny enough, I had made good friends with Matt's best friend (and now best man at our wedding) Caeden Johnston. Caeden and I started going on a couple of dates and getting to know each other. One day after church a group of friends went out to Tin Roof tacos in Boise. We had a great time and Matt Mallory sat across the table from me going on and on about a new fishing net he had just gotten. He couldn't stop telling the group how excited he was to go fly fishing and use this new net. Matt was one of the most extroverted people I have ever met. We saw each other every so often in group settings, after-church hang outs and miscellaneous times as we were in the same friend group.

Caeden had left to Lebanon with YWAM Kona and we decided we were no longer going on dates. Now, a couple of months had passed and little did I know, Matthew had asked Caeden if we were dating. Caeden had answered him honestly and said no we were not. Matt then began his pursuit. Matt first started by asking me to come to Riverhouse's morning prayer and Monday night prayer; these are still some of my favorite memories to this day. One morning, Matt asked me to join him for coffee at the nearby Push and Pour. Matt was totally convinced this was a first date while I was convinced that just because he had paid, not it was not. We sat, had great conversation and I left, reminded of how funny and spontaneous Matt is. It was truly refreshing to be around him and no matter what, I just wanted to be his friend. I truly had no idea he had more-than-friend feelings but was starting to get suspicious as all of my friends were telling me that he was TOTALLY into me. Matt was completing his Junior/Senior years at Colorado Christian University while I was finishing my nursing degree at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, ID. Therefore, we did not see each other that next school year that started in September. It was around Christmas time and Matt was on campus at NNU playing pickle ball with some of our best friends. I wanted to clear things up so I had asked Matt to meet me at my apartment so we could talk! We sat on the couch in my living room and I was hoping to be on the same page and tell him that I was in a year of singleness and not interested in dating. Matt had answered with "so if I asked you on a date in the summer, it would be a total no?" It was then I had told him I could not answer this question. Matt in his hopeful heart completely respected my wishes and was so kind and patient.

Matt had left back to Colorado and I began to start thinking about him A LOT more than I originally had anticipated. A few months had passed and from time to time, he would send me some cool videos of him skiing or fishing and I left him on read for weeks and weeks yet I was thinking about him more and more. One night I even had a dream about him. In the dream we were doing homeless ministry and going through a Wendy's drive through. I had called Matt to tell him about this dream and the next time I saw him at morning prayer, we went for coffee and ended up passing near a homeless man who needed dog food for his animals. Matt and I had the best time serving this man and that was one of the first days I thought "I could serve others with a man as gentle as this for a very long time". Matt and I started hanging out more and more and the more I enjoyed his company and friendship.

Matthew and I would linger after Thursday night young adults in hopes that it would somehow, magically, end up just being the two of us left. This lingering on both of our ends was successful and one night, Matthew had asked me the question I was secretly hoping for, "will you go on a date with me?" Matt picked me up from my apartment on campus and we drove up to Stack Rock trailhead after ordering each other's Subway sandwiches on the way. We got a mile into the hike and it turns out, there was a storm rolling through. One mile in, Matt, myself and our sandwiches were soaked. We sat under the over hang of a giant rock while Matt picked a tick out of my hair from the sage brush. We laughed and talked for hours. This date that may have seemed like a dumpster fire to someone else, was one of the best days of my life. We ended the date by watching the sunset and carving our initials into an aspen tree at the top of Bogus Basin Road.

Matt and I enjoyed the rest of the summer hiking, boating and watching the stars. We quickly realized that hanging out every day was going to come to an end as Matt was headed back to Colorado and I was staying local for our senior years of college. Matt and I prepared for a long 9 months of long distance but had no idea what we were doing. We took this time as an opportunity to grow our relationships with the Lord and enjoying our last years of college with our friends. There were many nights of staying up way too late to talk about our days and had many, many ups and downs as we were learning so many new things about each other all while being so far apart. Matthew and I clung to the Lord, our friends and mentors for advice, wisdom and encouragement during this time.

Matt and I had finished 9 months of long distance and I was elated to have him home! I was so hopeful of a beautiful summer being together again. The day that Matt flew home from Colorado he asked me to go on a hike to Bogus and get dinner after. I went out and bought a new dress and Matt drove us to the top of Bogus. He asked if we could stop and pray at the top of the mountain about our relationship going into the summer. We walked to a nearby lookout, Matt hugged me and started praying. Nearing the end of the prayer, Matt asked the Lord for the opportunity to "serve Courtney for the rest of his life". I quickly realized this was a lot more than just going out to dinner. Matt got on one knee and asked me to marry him. I was in absolute shock, so in shock I did not even say yes for the first 10 minutes. Matt put the ring on my finger and finally I said "YES YES of course!!" The answer he had been waiting for. Afterwards, Matt and I went to see some of my best friends and then met our families for ice cream. Here we are today, preparing to join as one flesh to love and serve the Lord, His people and one another for the rest of our lives.