We met for the first time when I was placed on the Fairmont Wyldlife team, a middle school ministry organization. I knew from the moment I met Steven that there was something special about him. The way he loved the Lord, his friends and family, and his middle schoolers caught my eye, and I never looked away. We quickly became close, running after middle schoolers and Jesus together. Friends turned into best friends, and that turned into something more. After months of prayerful consideration and guidance from some wise people, we decided to run after Jesus with each other for the rest of our lives.

We both knew the proposal was coming up, as couples who are dating for marriage typically do. It was only a matter of time, but Steven popped the question earlier than I expected! The proposal was perfect, as he asked me to spend the rest of our lives together where we first fell in love: in an elementary school gym. With a bunch of middle schoolers. Going crazy on a Friday night. He had me tricked. He somehow had ME invite all the people that I'm closest with to club that evening: my family, his family, and my best friends from home and college. I thought they were there for a birthday celebration, but little did I know they were there for much more. I was even dressed up to "play a trivia game" with some of his closest middle school guys. I was blinded folded as were they. He told me to stall as he finished up the "game preparation" and in typical Ashlee style, that meant I taught the blindfolded middle school boys next to me how to line dance. Then he grabbed my hand. Told me to take off the blindfold. And there he was, down on one knee, holding a ring. Naturally my first response was to back away slowly and cover my face. But his words captivated me as he held my hand tight and pulled me close: "Hey, the way you love these kids, your family, your friends, and me especially , is something straight from Jesus that I want to experience for the rest of my life. Ashlee Carol Bennett, will you marry me?" After a few more seconds of hiding my face, I, of course, said "Yessss" to the love of my life. And the rest is history in the making.