Jared and Sarah met on July 15th, 2023, when they matched on Hinge, a dating app. Jared sensed something different about Sarah from her profile, showcasing her clear intentions and love for Jesus. Without hesitation, Jared’s first message was asking Sarah to dinner that same night. Once she agreed, he began the first of many 2-hour journeys from Orlando to Jacksonville, where he lived. Reluctant to reveal he wasn’t already in Jax for the weekend, he feared it might sound strange to drive up just for her! Sarah felt a sense of peace meeting Jared for the first time, enjoying his thoughtful questions and listening skills. Despite their different backgrounds, they connected over sharing testimonies and their mutual love for Jesus. Dinner naturally transitioned to a walk along Jax beach, where they laughed lots and shared more stories. Their initial date seamlessly flowed into a second one the following day, with Jared joining Sarah at her church. Post-service, they went on a scenic bike ride along the beach. Their connection deepened, and neither wanted their time together to end. After leaving that weekend, Jared was determined not to let distance interfere with the intentionality of their relationship, so he wrote his first letter to Sarah. This effort made Sarah feel cared for and she knew he was special. The various letters exchanged in the early stages of their relationship played a significant role in making a few months feel like years of knowing one another. Weeknight hangouts weren’t possible due to distance, so Jared and Sarah cherished their weekends, keeping busy with activities such as playing tennis, taking walks, reading together, and spending time with friends and family. With each shared weekend, their love and understanding of each other deepened, fostering confidence that they wanted to spend the rest of their lives together. After a lot of prayer and conversations, on December 9th, 2023, Jared surprised Sarah with a heartfelt backyard proposal. Jared wrote and read one final letter as her boyfriend that culminated with the question, “Will you marry me?” With tears in her eyes, the response was an enthusiastic “YES”, marking the start toward a lifetime together. We are very much looking forward to starting this new chapter together, and can’t wait to celebrate with all of our favorite people!