I met Brady my first week in Oklahoma, in August of 2011. I was instantly attracted to him and asked my friends to introduce us. We began hanging out in groups and working on class projects together, but of course I had to make the first move for us to start dating in November of that year. Unfortunately, a year later I broke up with him. Our time apart was very challenging, but it was also a growing time for both of us. By senior year, we had begun hanging out in groups again, but I moved to Nashville for college in 2014 and it wasn't until the middle of our freshman year that we reconnected. Round two of dating for us started January 4, 2015, but we spent the next three and a half years doing long-distance. I moved back home to where he lives in May 2018 and we got engaged November 10, 2018. The proposal was simple and sweet: he took me to dinner where we had our first date, P.F. Chang's, and then we danced to "Running Home to You" by Grant Gustin at the lake in 30 degree weather before he got down on one knee--I cried!
Sophomore year of high school, Sierra and her family moved to Bethany from Singapore. The first time I met her was at church one day. I immediately knew I wanted to get to know her. However, she made the first move... It was a simple text, but it started something special. We got to know each other and soon thereafter, started dating. About a year later she dumped me. At a Starbucks. I knew I couldn't stand coffee, but now I just had another reason to not like it. For two years we remained friends--hanging out in the same friend groups and whatnot--but didn't get back together during that time period. She moved off to Nashville for college and we started the next chapter of our lives. We texted every great once in a while, but that was it. She came back home for Thanksgiving and we actually hung out a little. But she left once again. When she came home for Christmas break that year, things changed for the both of us. Yet again, she made the first move, telling me she still had feelings for me. I told her I had to think about it... We went on our first date January 4, 2015, and the next day she left to go back to school. The next three and half years of long distance brought some incredibly difficult times, but it also brought us closer in ways I didn't even think possible. She's been home for about half a year now and my love for her has grown more and more each day. God has truly blessed me with Sierra. She has my heart for the rest of our lives. I wouldn't want it any other way.