In January of that year, Ester moved from Maryland to Texas to pursue her degree in Nuclear Engineering. She joined the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M University in the spring semester, stepping into a new season filled with faith, courage, and unexpected blessings. Meanwhile, Nick was entering his second semester at Texas A&M, studying Industrial and Systems Engineering alongside one of his best friends, Ryan Nereson. As God would have it, Ryan joined the Corps of Cadets at the same time as Ester, and they became buddies. During the first week of classes, Ester was studying with her squadron when Ryan invited Nick to join them. That night, Nick sat next to Ester, and what started as a simple conversation quickly turned into something meaningful. They bonded over their shared faith in Christ, exchanged phone numbers, and began spending time together as friends. Their conversations were deep, joyful, and intentional, and neither of them wanted them to end. It didn’t take long for Nick to develop feelings for Ester. Just a month into their friendship, he asked her out. But Ester wasn’t quite ready. Still, Nick waited patiently. Ester wanted to truly see Nick’s heart for God—to witness his worship and understand his walk with the Lord. When they finally went on a date, she knew: Nick was a man of God. On March 4th, they began dating. From day one, their relationship has been rooted in friendship and grounded in Jesus. That summer, Nick served as a counselor at Pine Cove, where he didn’t have access to his phone. Their relationship was tested, as communication came only through handwritten letters. During that time, both Ester and Nick grew in their faith individually, learning to trust God's timing and His plans for their future. It was a beautiful season of growth, surrender, and deeper love. Today, they continue to love each other deeply, but above all, they love the Lord more than anything. Their relationship is built on the firm foundation of Christ, and they are beyond excited to step into marriage as best friends, hand in hand, with Jesus at the center.