I had seen Robbie around Greensboro, but didn't really know him, but we both got hired at Union Coffee in September of 2018. I got to know Robbie really well behind the bar. Our shifts at Union allowed me to get to know him in a fun and personal way. We talked about our hobbies, our troubles, really anything on our minds. He was funny, smart, and simply a great guy; and everyone around us agreed. I even remember everyone talked about how cute Robbie was, I remember I looked at Robbie and said, "I don't really get the hype." Clearly I bit my tongue on that one. In my mind, he was just a great friend. After working at Union for a month or so we found ourselves attending the same church. Later, we started playing music together and spending time in the same friend circle. Before we knew it, he was one of my closest friends. I remember, one day in the summer of 2020, I was doing a bible study (in Union of course) and one of the questions asked, "Who in your life lives like Jesus and why?" The first person, I thought of was Robbie. I wrote, "When I think of people who are most like Jesus… I think of Robbie. His steadfast nature and his patience to leave the crowd to serve the one with no recognition pushes me to be more like Jesus . His pure heart for others attracts me to him.” I looked up, Robbie was working... and for the first time I thought, "Wow, he IS really cute!" I finally got the "hype". Then a couple weeks later, we realized we both liked each other and started to date! Fast forward to December 4, 2021. We were having a super restful day, and about to listen to our favorite podcast in the park. He then pulls out a handful of letters written by my family about how excited they were for us to get engaged. After I read the letters, cried a little (or a lot) Robbie got down on one knee and asked me to marry him! I could not be more excited to marry my best friend.

I knew of Isabel before I had even had the chance to talk to her. Even from a distance I could sense the joy she carried with her. The passion, drive, joy, and assurance of faith that surrounded her person intrigued me to no end. I remember when she first took her spot in my mind, I was sitting towards the back of a college worship service my first semester in Greensboro. I was not there to contribute. Rather, I just knew that I needed to be a part of some sort gathering that was oriented towards Jesus. Bear with me while I briefly share about freshman Robbie. Listen, I know this is about her. We’ll get back there soon! I was homeschooled. Don’t say you wouldn’t have guessed! As a result, I had the privilege of being able to center my learning not only around typical subjects, but also around my passions. With this said, much of my schooling was inclined to include aspects of art, creativity, and theology; or at least be held in light of such things. Beyond this, high school was a great time for me. I was surrounded by support and deep friendships. In addition, I was investing in what I cared about, and my faith was flourishing. Then comes college. Remove a boy from his surroundings and what’s left gets exposed.

Back to that college service. As I sat beside a few friends that I had met weeks before, I longed for something I could not quite grasp. Only, months of being on my own and I had been humbled greatly. I was in this new place to study and achieve academically, yet I completely lacked a compelling image of who I wanted to become. And so, from stage left, enters Isabel Grace Friesen. At the time, Isabel was in some sort of student leadership position at the church that was holding this college service and had been invited on stage to share her experience. I don’t remember anything specific that she said, but that’s not the point. What I do remember was deeply important to me. I remember the spirit she carried with her. A spirit of hope and of love. This girl walked with confidence and assurance of who she was and of who her God was. This girl was compelling. I was intrigued at a soul level. I wanted whatever it was she had. I longed for it deeply. The more I think back to this moment, the more I realize how much of a turning point for me it was. However, I won’t continue into my spiritual journey other than to say that this moment was one that initiated a directional shift in my life and showed me what a person could look like when open to and empowered by the spirit of God. As the months went by, our lives began to overlap more and more. We found community in the same church plant. We worked along side each other at Union Coffee Co. We developed a sweet and edifying friendship. She became my dearest friend. Rather than keep you longer than is necessary and attempt to describe the transition from friend to partner, I’ll say this: while friends, Isabel showed me what a woman of God looks like. I have not met a woman more faithful, humble, and full of love than Isabel.