It’s a funny story, actually. It started way back when I met up with our mutual friend, Kaysen, for dinner. I was freshly single and definitely not looking for a relationship anytime soon, but I still wanted to see pictures of this guy she said would be a good fit for me when I was ready, of course. She showed me, and at the time, I could not have cared less. Fast forward a few months before her wedding. Kaysen texted me saying Keenan was going to be there. I responded, and I quote, “you’re so silly,” “I’ll give him a chat if you want me to,” and my personal favorite, “the man has to come up to ME!” Well, the wedding rolls around, and I was lucky to attend with our mutual friend Emma. During the ceremony, I nudged her and whispered that there was a guy in the second or third pew who seemed really cute, though all I could see was floppy brown hair and broad shoulders. Naturally, we giggled. At the reception, while the bride and groom were having their private dinner, Emma and I were people watching, which really meant watching the cute boy from the third row. We got in the coffee line, and suddenly it was him, Emma, and me all in a row. Emma tried to switch spots with me, and I told her, “HECK NO! But if God wants this to happen, I won’t need to step out of my way to control it.” Then we left the coffee line but I saw him grab a lemonade for his mom as we were leaving the line - green flag! Later, Emma and I were eating when I noticed cute boy heading toward the buffet. I jokingly tossed my hair and told Emma I needed to look “cool and mysterious,” fully assuming he wasn’t anywhere near to witness this ridiculous moment. One dramatic hair toss later, there he was, standing right next to me. He smiled and asked, “You’re Morgan, right?” I confirmed, and he said, “Kaysen told me to ask for your number.” Completely stunned and caught off guard, I replied with my best attempt at wit, “Well is that something you want?” He answered, all excited and giggly, “Well yeah!” As we exchanged numbers, he mentioned he would text me his name, and without thinking, I said, “Can you text your last name too?” He laughed and replied, “Oh, you want my last name?” and I nervously laughed right along with him… that aged well! We had a little more banter, and then he told me he had another wedding to get to. What?! But before I knew it, we had exchanged numbers, and I immediately ran to the bathroom with Emma and cried, just overwhelmed with gratitude for God and how good He is to me. Because He is. We texted constantly until our first date, which somehow lasted six hours. Partway through dinner, a random woman came up to our table, pointed at the flowers, and asked if it was our first date. When we said yes, she smiled and told us it was the same restaurant where she and her husband had gone on their first date… that also aged well. Every date since has felt like a princess movie, full of laughter, dumb jokes, and pure joy, the kind only the Lord provides. God truly answered my prayers when He gave me Keenan. He is everything I’ve ever wanted in a future husband and more. A little over a year later, he proposed, and I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with him. We are now in the season of preparing our covenant with the Lord and making His name greater, locking arms for whatever He has in store. We could not be more excited or more blessed. I hope you had as much fun reading this as I did living it.
There is this woman who goes by the name of Kaysen Culak. She is always scheming and plotting and loves to get her fingers wrapped up in the lives of those around her. She secretly has grand plans for all the people in her life that, in some way, shape, or form, will benefit her. Most people have no realization of the complexity of her schemes until her conniving gaze falls on them. In 2023, I became the next target on her list. You see, Kaysen (if that is her name at all) likes to do her work when one is at a low point in life. For me, this happened the day after I ended a two-year relationship. I was distraught and upset, and Kaysen saw her chance. She invited me to dinner, saying she “wanted to make sure I would be okay.” I naively agreed. While at dinner (bait), Kaysen brought up a certain girl by the name of Morgan Metcalf. When I said I couldn’t even comprehend being in another relationship, she pressed harder. She showed me pictures of Morgan, told me how amazing she was and how much she loved Jesus. When I continued my pushback, which she undoubtedly expected, Kaysen ended it with, “Not for now of course, just at some point in the future.” And that was it. Her trap was sprung, the seed planted deep in my mind. Much time had passed since that fateful dinner, about a year and four months, spent happily single. I hadn’t thought much of Morgan until one day, quite inexplicably, a thought awakened in my mind that I should inquire about her. The seed Kaysen planted had finally begun to sprout. I texted Kaysen to ask about Morgan and see if I could get her number. With shaky hands, I waited for a response. When it came, it wasn’t what I expected. Kaysen told me Morgan had just lost her older brother and was grieving. Shocked and saddened for Morgan’s loss, I said a prayer for her and concluded the door was permanently shut. I would find love elsewhere. Little did I know, God had other plans. Roughly six months later, Kaysen was getting married. Before the wedding, she texted me saying Morgan would be there and that I should ask for her number. I insisted I was there to support the bride, not pick up some chick’s number. And that was final… or so I thought. At the wedding, I couldn’t help but scan faces for someone who might be Morgan. I only remembered blonde hair and a vine tattoo on her left arm. To my shock, two girls matched that description. But only one had the beauty of sunrise in her smile, hair like flowing gold, eyes mixing green and blue into one bottomless pool, and a laugh that would make angels weep. The board had been set years earlier, but in that moment, I was in checkmate. So, being the gentleman I am, I decided to ask her for her number and hope she was Morgan. With a pounding heart and sweating palms, I walked over. “Are you Morgan?” I asked. “Yes. Are you Keenan?” “Yes I am,” I laughed. “I think I’m supposed to get your number.” “Well, do YOU want my number?” “Yes I do!” I took her number, said goodbye, and quickly left the wedding, using the excuse of another wedding to attend - mostly because I was not prepared for awkward small talk. Our first date didn’t happen for another month, but it lasted four to six hours and was frequently interrupted by some interesting people. Nearly two years and many ups and downs later, here we are, FINALLY getting married. While I don’t believe in soulmates, I do believe God designs certain people to go well together. I believe with my whole heart I’ve found my “certain” person, and I thank God every day for her. She has been the biggest of blessings in my life and I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life serving Jesus with her. *Slight exaggeration included for dramatic effect*