It all started with a blind date… and zero context. Our mutual friend John set us up with no information; just, “Hey, you two should meet,” and vibes. Naturally, we both turned into amateur detectives and did a little pre-date internet stalking (don’t act like you wouldn’t). I came armed with some subtle first-date “tests” to make sure he wasn’t a weirdo. He passed. With extra credit. Turns out, Sam was charming, thoughtful, and surprisingly not a serial killer. Huge win! We kept dating, navigating the usual early-relationship adventures. We had a lot to figure out: life, goals, how to split appetizers. Also, someone (not naming names, but it was me) had a mild case of Commitment Phobia™. So things moved… at a cautious pace. Then came October 24th, 2024. We walked the pedestrian bridge at the Gathering Place for three hours, just talking about everything (life, love, faith, dreams, boundaries, the meaning of cheese boards), you know, the essentials. If I hadn’t been so emotionally allergic to commitment at the time, I might’ve realized right then that he was "it". But instead of rushing, we took the scenic route. Slowly, intentionally, sometimes awkwardly, but always with care, we got to know each other. And somehow, I ended up falling in love with a man who is not especially known for his patience… yet has been endlessly patient with me. We met each other right where we were and built something steady, kind, and real. And through it all, we didn’t just fall in love... we sought God’s guidance every step of the way. And wouldn’t you know it? He made it beautifully clear: we’re exactly where we’re meant to be.

One summer, I was playing pickleball with a friend of mine, and he said, “Hey, how do you feel about a date set up?” I said I was down, and he gave me her name. So naturally, I did what digging I could before he gave me her number (which was a few days later). When I got her number, I was TERRIFIED of screwing things up, so I did what everyone would do and I called my best friend to help me send her a text. (p.s. She knew the text was coming, so why was I scared?!?). I showed up on the first date, ready to meet this woman and just see what she was like and if we vibed well. Spoiler alert- we did!! On top of that, she was amazing, kind, caring, and, as I soon realized, exactly what I wanted in life. Just a couple of days later, we went on another date (not the one we planned, but an impromptu concert date) where a LOT of things went wrong. Despite the chaos and waiting outside the BOK center for over an hour, she didn’t bat an eye or really seem stressed at all, despite my own internal freakout that this was going to ruin everything. To be honest, her being so calm and at ease… that’s when I truly started to fall for her. Maaaaayyybeeee a little too fast at this stage (oops). Then came October 24th, 2024. We had agreed to meet and walk around the Gathering Place. We walked for a few hours, talked about all the deep things, and we each threw a lot of our earlier precautions out the window. I learned to chill out a bit and not worry that I was going to mess things up (okay, so I didn’t worry ALL the time, at least). And from there, our relationship took off. Throughout the following months, we had many dates, check-ins, deep talks in my old 4Runner, and mostly, we had a lot of fun. Throughout it all, I fell in love with her even more deeply every day. We have learned all the ways in which we are similar, and like all couples, had our moments of difference. But one of the things that I began to love most about her was the way that she handled our differences with such a grace, one that I deeply desired in my life. Through it all, we have continued to seek God’s guidance at every step of our journey. Falling more deeply in love at every turn.