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My crush on Kailey first began 5 years ago at the end of my sophomore year of college. Finally, in the fall of senior year, I saw her in line at the coffee shop on campus, so I reacted quickly and jumped in line behind her. She ordered an iced coffee and went to talk to a friend in the corner of the cafe. When her drink came up, I grabbed it and happily brought it over to her, saying, “I think this is yours.” She looked up at me and said, “Thanks!” After locking eyes with her, at that moment I knew I had to somehow ask her on a date. About a month later, I was sitting in the student center looking through the windows when I saw her walking by on her way back to her dorm across campus. I sprung out of my seat and ran through the halls of the dorm in my attempt to meet her outside the end of the building before she passed. I somehow timed it perfectly and nervously stopped her on the sidewalk and asked her on our first date to Open Book in Minneapolis. She surprisingly said yes. Little did I know this was only the start of what would be a very challenging and refining time for me as God began to teach me a lot about what it means to wholeheartedly follow Jesus. Two years later, Kailey and I officially started a dating relationship.

The title makes it sound like a cute chick-flick, and while I think our story is purposeful and beautiful, it definitely wasn’t one without hiccups. I wouldn’t say I’m one of those girls that spent much time dreaming of my husband, but I grew up in a small enough community where plenty of my family and friends have married their best friends from high school. This was my standard, I was set on marrying my best friend and Seth did not initially fit into this category. We hardly knew each other but had a couple mutual friends at UNW. One day I was chatting with a friend while the cafe whipped up my coffee and he tapped on my shoulder and handed me my drink. A few days later day he hopped in line behind me in the cafe and introduced himself as I paid for my food. It was brief and we went our separate ways. Not long after that I was hustling by myself on the sidewalk after class to get to a meeting and out walked Seth to meet me on the corner. (Now I know he ran across campus, went inside and ran down the hall, just to meet me there) “I’d like to get to know you better and was wondering if we could get coffee sometime” he said. The next week we got coffee, chatted about our families, faith, travel, love of the outdoors, and Northern Minnesota.

Seth was boldly honest, persistent, kind, determined, and I was freaked out. Not many guys carry themselves like that and he didn’t fit into my plan. Soon into his pursuit I told him we could be friends. Through the rest of college we saw each other on and off. In our senior year of college we started to see each other more often as we sat in on the same class. With a little less pressure and a little more confidence I was ready to see where things went. I was praying open handedly to God that if He wanted to make something happen He could, and if not He better change Seth’s mind. HA! We were set to go on another date and this time Seth called it off. It was the end of our senior year, neither of us had much direction, and Seth told me God told him to let me go. I know it sounds like a cop-out, but after my prayers and knowing his character I believed it was best, even after a couple years of back and forth. Almost a year later Seth called and asked me if he could come up and hang out. Under the impression it was a date I said no, thinking semi-sarcastically in my mind “we aren’t doing that”. A few months later he called again and asked if we could catch up as friends. I figured that was allowed and we ended up chatting at park point for hours. It was May and finally in October we were dating.

We have spent 3 years trying to discern God’s goodness for us. I wouldn’t trade the questions, confusion, awkward conversation or disappointments in our early relationship. We’ve tried our best to set a foundation of seeking God’s goodness, listening to Him, and loving Him first. In our time separate we’ve grow in our own independence, leadership, voice, passion and dependence on God; and in our time together our dreams and character have continued to be formed. I’m continually surprised by the unspoken hopes and answered prayers that I find in my relationship with Seth (his strength, passion, family, music taste, and love of travel to name a few). Its been a wonder to be pursued, cherished, wooed, challenged, and refined by him; something I see as a small picture of God’s love for me and you. Ephesians 3 has been a source of truth and hope for me the last couple of years. “and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do infinitely more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” God’s done more than I could have imagined 3 years ago, and I can’t wait to see all that will unfold in the rest of our lives as partners. Thanks for being part of our story! We can’t wait to celebrate with you!