We met at a volleyball tournament and later reconnected through run club, where long miles slowly turned into meaningful conversation. I grew to admire his faith, character, and the community he was rooted in, even as I tried to keep him in the “just a friend” category—especially with Spain on the horizon. What began as friendship quietly became something that felt steady, intentional, and worth choosing. Not to be cliché, but I just knew he was the man I’d marry.

We were introduced by mutual friends in March of 2025, though we had known of each other long before then. The first moment I truly imagined Sam as my wife came during a volleyball tournament, where her quiet generosity revealed itself in the way she cared for everyone around her. Not long after, we trained for and completed a half marathon together—an experience that deepened my certainty that she was the woman I would marry. By August of 2025, we made our relationship official, both of us already knowing that marriage was not a matter of if, but when.