Riley was a friend that I adored and cared for many years before we started actually dating. The first times we ever hung out was playing worship together for the Shack ministries! Riley and I hit it off in a very flirty way in the beginning, but soon he ran away from me because what guy isn't a little afraid of the girl that they think might really be the one (; . Anyway, we didn't end up dating in that season, things fizzled down and we didn't see each other much for awhile. Soon, I had almost forgotten about my cute and fun friend Riley Stewart (how I thought his name was spelt when we met). Surely enough, the Lord brought us back together at the Shack retreat in the summer of 2018 at Emma Wood State Park. I knew that my heart was excited to spend time with my long lost friend who I hadn't spent time with in so long. Riley definitely seemed quite excited when I let him know that I was coming on the trip as well. Once we got there, poor me who forgot her hammock straps needed a strong man to find some rope and help me hang up my hammock for camping, of course Riley was there, as STRONG as he is, and he tied my hammock up better than anyone else could have (he later shared that he really was not sure if that rope was going to hold me up but he prayed it would). On that trip, I remember God showing me this man who God loved so much and a man who I knew God had really great big plan for. I felt the Spirit of God open my eyes and my heart to love Riley and see Riley in a way only God could. I ended up asking Riley to go on a backpacking trip two weeks after the Shack retreat with my brother, (future) sister-in-law, and a few friends and he said yes! After that, the rest is kind of just history! There was a kiss here, a date there, and a whole lot of amazing things that God did. Overall, I saw that Riley was a man who prayed, who knew how to pursue my heart, and was willing to make a big commitment like marriage and fulfill his promises in life.

Our story is just like everyone else's, yet so divine and unique as well, cause that's just the way God works. I pray that everyone reading this has felt blessed by Riley and I together, in any way, and if you have not met me, or not met Riley, I hope that you get to witness the love of God within us and the work that He has done in us to get us where we are today. We love each other so much, we love God so much, and we love you ALL... SO... MUCH!!! And.... our story has truly just begun!