We met in 2022 when Matthew moved to the High Desert from New York for work and began attending the young adults ministry at High Desert Church (HDC). After a beach trip to Corona Del Mar with a group of friends from church, we grew closer and soon became good friends. Though romance wasn’t on our minds at first, God, in His grace, had other plans. In late summer 2024, after a season of individual growth, we decided to take a chance on a romantic relationship. With a solid foundation of friendship, we fell in love with each other for who we truly are. Our relationship has been marked by the beauty of grace—grace for mistakes, weaknesses, and imperfections. Through this, we have experienced in an even deeper way the grace God has for us as well.