A love story worth the wait...

While each living their own life of adventure, God created separate yet interconnected routes to guide Paul and Donna to East Tennessee State University. Donna, searching for a degree focused on storytelling that would blend well with her communication background, and Paul, searching for a degree focused on communication, while harboring a deep love for stories, crossed paths on August 23, 2018, at a graduate student orientation luncheon. Both had decided to pursue a Master's degree in Communication and Storytelling Studies. First impressions can be somewhat tricky. After seeing Donna, Paul's first thought was how much she resembled Sigourney Weaver from her days in the Alien movies. After seeing Paul, Donna's first thought was that Paul was a little less than an optimal height for a woman of her stature. However, regardless of first impressions, their story was just beginning...

During their first two semesters, Paul and Donna spent a lot of time together inside and outside the classroom exploring their similarities and differences through conversation. They learned that they came from very different worlds but were surprised to discover that they shared similar views on more topics than they had at first thought possible. A surprisingly easy friendship began to develop that both of them secretly cherished. Finally, after successfully completing their first year of grad school, on May 8, 2019, Donna agreed to meet Paul for dinner. Paul, believing his position to be reasonably secure, decided to express his interest in pursuing a relationship. With his most charming approach, he provided Donna with a long list of their similarities and made his move the only way he knew how - honest and direct. Unbeknownst to Paul, Donna was already struggling with how to word what she knew would be her reply. As Paul expressed his desire to start a relationship he was met with honesty comparable only to his own. In a direct, straight-faced, matter-of-fact style, Donna turned him down - FLAT! Shock washed over Paul. Never had he experienced so confident a rejection. Donna returned his advances with an acknowledgment of their similarities but highlighted the one undeniable, insurmountable difference that, in her mind, was fatal to any potential for a relationship. Paul did not share her faith in Jesus. Donna did her best to explain why she could never bring herself to dismiss a hurdle of this magnitude and told Paul, with regret, that anything other than friendship was impossible for them. Both left the restaurant that night feeling the loss but, in spite of what felt like a sad closing chapter, their story was still being written...

After completing another grueling two semesters, and successfully defending their theses, Paul and Donna celebrated the completion of their master's degrees and began to wonder what the future held in store. Their friendship had endured through every challenge that grad school had thrown their way, and while each still harbored a secret wish that they could be more, they were both genuinely thankful for the other and content with the knowledge that they would remain life-long friends. And then, in the Spring of 2020, God worked a miracle in a not-so-young man's life. What started as a private conversation between a broken man and God, quickly morphed into a full-fledged battle of the wills and God did not let go of His hold. Conversations turned into questions, questions turned into reading God's Word, and reading turned into church attendance, and a growing desire to understand. After a few short months, a new man emerged from the darkness and stepped into the light as a true believer. Donna had not seen this coming. Throughout grad school, there had been a number of conversations about faith. There had been discussions about religion vs. relationship, the existence and character of God, and the true nature of the human heart but never had there been any indication that Paul was the least bit interested in entertaining any thoughts of personal application. As Paul began to exhibit the signs of someone being called by God, Donna waited and watched. In the months that followed, Donna was frequently overwhelmed by awe and sheer wonder at the miracle of spiritual rebirth that she was witnessing. She was humbled by her lack of faith in God's ability to do what she had believed impossible. God, in His great love for Paul and Donna, formed the last piece of the puzzle and made what used to be two separate paths one. They were now able to see a new chapter in the story that God had written and were both surprised and pleased to find themselves on the same page...

As the days and months ticked by, Paul and Donna stayed in stride, enjoying all that God had done and was continuing to do. Over and over, Paul's thoughts turned towards a future with Donna, a future he believed would be filled with love and excitement. He worked diligently on an approach and secured a ring that he knew would be perfect. All he had to do was wait for the right day to set his plan into motion. Few things compare to the beauty of the Appalachian Mountains in the Fall. On October 23th, 2021, Paul and Donna set out on a drive to Table Rock Mountain, in North Carolina. After a long drive up a gravel road, they parked the truck and, after a creative maneuver to get the ring into his hiking pack, Paul and Donna started their ascent. Upon reaching the summit, the two basked in the beauty of God's canvas, a blanket of greens, oranges, and reds that stretched as far as they could see. This is where Paul found the perfect spot, a singular stone outcrop with a fantastic view. Paul set up a camera and hit record while Donna remained unaware of what was about to happen. Paul, blaming the altitude for his shortness of breath, pulled a box from his back pocket and began to take a knee. Staring into her eyes, he tried to find the right words. Now that the moment was here, the man who always had something to say found that he couldn't find the words to articulate all of his feelings. He wanted to tell her how much she meant to him. He wanted to tell her that he didn't want to spend a single day without her. He struggled to say all that was in his heart but managed to ask the most important question, "Will you marry me?" And, with tears in her eyes, Donna provided him with her answer, "Yes!" Paul and Donna spent the rest of that day in fluctuations of joyful disbelief and confident hope in a very good and gracious God who had written a love story truly worth the wait...just for them.