In the fall of 2018, I was getting ready to host a singles connect group of a church that I had attended for more than 7 years, Shoreline City. I had spent many weeks preparing with a few of my good friends and this was the very first connect group of the fall season. We were planning to lead a discussion focused on important priorities and perspectives a single person might have in their single season of life. That night, I would greet more than 15 single people as they strolled up one of my good friend’s townhome, the venue we chose to host the connect group. Though I had no intention of meeting someone that would catch my eye – as a matter of fact, I directed the group that very night that this would not be a group people should attend with the intention of finding a date - I would meet one individual who did. Nothing unusual or special happened that night besides the normal conversation complete strangers would have in a church sanctioned small group. The connect group was great and we looked forward to hosting the group the following month. I was also looking forward to figuring out a little bit more about this cute girl from Connecticut named Ashley Murphy. I may or may not have creeped to find her Instagram and Facebook. I have never been a patient person, I had already resolved that I wouldn’t wait for the next connect group to learn more about her. I instead hoped she’d come to church that week and was ready to talk to her, see if I was interested, and then ask her for her number. Unfortunately, I didn’t see this girl for weeks. Finally, I would see her as I was exiting the sanctuary in service. She has a different version of events, but here are the facts: I was in the front row and her eyes must’ve been on me for some time. She called my name, we greeted in the warm way two people who desired to see each other would. Apparently, she was paying close attention to my Instagram posts because she asked about a recent trip I had taken to Europe. This gave me a hint that she might be interested in me - after all, what girl that I just met would pay such close attention to my Instagram? I thought this was a fair conclusion to draw but it didn’t motivate me enough to get her number. That night, I messaged her briefly conveying that it was great to catch up with her in church. Her record of events is that after she wished me a happy birthday, I left her on read. She later proved this to me with receipts 😉. At this time, I was interested, I just had a little ADD. That same week I would absolutely be convinced of her interest in me because of a mistake on my part. I was creeping on her Instagram to try and gleam more and more about this beautiful woman. I wanted to know what her family might be like, what school she went to, what things she enjoyed doing. As I was scrolling I accidentally liked a photo she posted 3 years ago. I didn’t mean to, but I couldn’t take it back. I immediately called my roommates to my room in a panic and told them I had just became the creeper that accidentally reveals what he’s been doing behind the scenes for the girl he’s crushing on. We almost had a crisis meeting and just before they could rub in how careless my mistake was, she screenshots the evidence of me liking a photo back to me in an Instagram message. I immediately fell to my knees. My roommates watched me, and I told them what she did. Their mouths fell open. All I could do was look at them with desperation. This moment felt like it lasted forever. Suddenly she sent a message back that would bring closure to the cliff hanger. She sent an “LOL”, and I immediately knew right there in this moment, this girl had the hots for me too. We went on three dates back-to-back shortly after that Instagram moment and then we’d proceed to date intentionally. I would ask her to be my girlfriend about 4 months later on Valentine’s Day. I had teddy bears, a life-sized hallmark card, a Cheesecake Factory dinner, and a Motown soundtrack.

I’d see her each week for date night for the next three years 😊. Some would contend I took my sweet time, but it was intentional and strategic. We saw God do so much in our season of dating, even if the haters want to say it took too long. What I forgot to mention earlier is that we started dating at the end of 2018. In 2020 I began writing a song that I knew I’d one day find a way to perform for Ashley. The chorus came to me while I was driving back home to visit family in Austin. I wrote down the words, recorded what sounded like a melody and then I started scheming quietly with friends who were musically talented. The song was finished in 2020. The first time she’d hear it would be in January of 2022. She’d think she’d be going to an Open Mic Night that one of our friends put together. All our closest friends would know the truth: this Open Mic night with more than 100 people attending would be an event I put together for the sole purpose of proposing to her. A talented friend would perform the song as we entered a room full of familiar friends from our church, and some family and long-time friends, hidden in various places of this beautiful venue in Deep Ellum. At some point in the song, the performer would announce that someone in the room had in fact written this original song titled “I Get to Call Myself Her Man.” He would then invite me up as the person who wrote the song. I would ask Ashley to follow me on the stage and I would as her confusion turned into shock and surprise and then a sweet and emotional knowing. I watched all these emotions overtake her amidst a crowd that shouted and celebrated what it had already known for many weeks. I told her that this song wouldn’t make sense unless the person I wrote it for helped it have meaning. Then I took a knee, fumbled a bit with the ring, and then asked her to marry me. She said yes. Her name is Ashley. My name is Daniel. And now I’ll forever get to call myself her man. If you’re reading this, you’ve been a part of our lives and we’re thankful for the roles you’ve played big or small.