We originally met at an on- campus ministry, Navigators, at the University of South Carolina. Babs was a freshman and Nathan was a sophomore who led worship for the ministry. We were both committed members and leaders in Shandon Baptist's college ministry throughout our years at USC as well. During college, we became pretty close friends and would often hang out in the same friend groups. I (Babs) always thought Nathan was incredible as I had seen him display his character throughout five years of friendship and Nathan had the same opportunity to really see and know my character in years of friendship before we ever pursued a relationship with each other. Besides always finding ways to have fun with each other and do random, risky and adventurous things together that no one else would be down for, we also had opportunities to partner together in ministry during our friendship. We hosted worship nights together at my house for an entire summer about 6 months before we started dating. So when our friends began to find out that we liked each other and were pursuing a relationship with each other, no one was shocked. It has been a really beautiful blessing to have our community affirm and support our dating, and now engaged (!!) relationship. We had our first date on January 8, 2019 and in classic Nathan and Babs style, we jumped (kind of) into a freezing cold lake and Nathan's cheesy line was, "Will you take the plunge with me?" A little over a year later, on February 29, 2020, Nathan blindfolded me and took me back to this same spot where we had our first date. He, with the help of middle school boys (if you know us, this makes total sense), had spent weeks clearing off an island right behind the dock where we began our dating relationship. He decorated the island with string lights and planned the whole night beautifully as it ended with a surprise engagement party with our closest friends and family. We can't wait to begin our new lives together as the Hoffman's!