We had known of each other for a long time from mutual church friends. However, one of the first encounters we had was a theological discussion that quickly led to a heated debate (the video of this is privately held, only to be shown with discretion). Soon after this Taylor asked Josiah (yes, she made the first move) to help plan some youth events for the church. Short phone calls and texts about church events turned into 4-hour phone calls. They started weekly, eventually became daily and the rest -as they say- is "history".
After we began planning youth events together and talking a lot more we became close friends. We had endless deep 3 AM phone calls about theology, life, and what we thought about the all-life questions everyone asks.
Once Taylor and I started dating, I knew I wanted to marry her. That was the whole purpose of us starting the relationship, we agreed that dating was to make sure we were compatible (and since we had already pretty much become best friends, compatibility was affirmed fairly quickly). As mentioned above we spent most of our time -up to the point of dating- asking the hard questions and getting to know each other deeply. We both joke that we did the whole relationship thing backwards, (asking deep questions before dating and then figuring out favorite colors/ice cream flavors while dating). After 2 months of being “offical” I knew I was dating a literal genius and surpising her with a ring would be difficult. Then Big Chad hit me (Figuratively), while talking about Taylor’s birthday, he suggested a ring. I had been thinking about it, but that suggestion initiated the planning. Before getting started there was a TON of prayer and wrestling with self-motives, but God made it clear through a multitude of opened doors and support that this would be the right timing. Taylor and I decided that instead of doing a gift for her birthday, we would go somewhere really cool… so Niagara Falls was suggested and to save all the details for another day, everything else lined up from there. She said YESSS and here we are getting started with the rest of our lives together :) -to avoid cringe stop reading now- There is no one else I would rather go on hikes with, go on long car rides with, joke around and be goofy with, talk about theology with, pursue God with, watch the office with (except for maybe Dwight), and honestly just do life with. Taylor has been a huge blessing in my life and I can’t wait to call her my wife. -Josiah