They first crossed paths on a camping trip in the summer of 2022. Nothing really came of it—just a brief overlap in passing, sharing a little time around the campfire, and exchanging a few laughs. While they connected on Facebook, neither of them remembered much about the other once the trip was over. It wasn’t until the holiday season brought them both to a mutual friend’s Christmas party in December 2022, that their story really began. While cleaning up together at the end of the night, they sparked up an easy conversation. Saralyn admired and remembered his kindness in staying behind to help tidy up after the party, even though he would not remember her just yet. Soon, Saralyn started popping up on Nate's Facebook feed. By the summer of 2023, Nate decided to take a chance. He slid into her “DMs” (direct messages, for those not fluent in internet slang)—asking her about swing dance. Saralyn said yes—she’d go swing dancing with him… and whoever else might show up, since it was a community activity, after all. Nate, meanwhile, was certain this was a date. That confidence lasted right up until another one of her guy friends strolled in and joined them. The very next night, they planned to go swing dancing again. But plans shifted, and instead they found themselves sharing sushi and taking a walk through the park. Some might call that the first official date. Saralyn, however, maintains that since the word “date” was never spoken, it couldn’t possibly count. Either way, something was starting to take root. They continued hanging out, getting to know one another. In September of 2023, Nate finally asked her out on an official date (and yes—he used the word date this time). They enjoyed Italian food and a few escape rooms together, as well as bonding over their newly born niece and nephew (who will soon be seen walking down the aisle at their wedding!). Nate was immediately taken with her from this date. Saralyn, however, wasn’t so sure. She enjoyed his friendship deeply, but her heart was elsewhere, and thought friendship was the right space for them. So, they stayed friends. They hung out, went on first dates with other people, and kept showing up in each other’s lives. Meanwhile, all of Saralyn’s friends persistently nudged her: “Have you thought about Nate? Why wouldn’t you date him?” Slowly, as they continued their friendship, her heart began to change. By September of 2024, Nate brought up his interest in her again. Saralyn wasn’t fully sure about her feelings, but she did know there was something there. In an effort not to scare her away, Nate suggested, “Let’s take a week and pray about it.” She agreed. But as fate would have it, before the week was even through—while hanging out that weekend—everything fell into place and they officially started dating. His patience and persistence had finally captured her heart… and the rest is history.