THE MOVE Devin moved from Georgia to Maryland February 2024 starting a residency at Neighborhood church and didn't know in just a few months the woman of his dreams would be moving there too. August 2024 Hope moved from Ohio to Maryland to follow her college roommate who also got a job at the same church as Devin. THE BEGINNING Their mutual friends hosted game nights every Sunday and from the first one Hope attended, it was an instant attraction and draw to each other. Devin likes to claim it was love at first sight for Hope; that she looked at him and knew she had to have him. Hope likes to say that she was not interested at all; she was wrong obviously. End of September the young adults small group starts, which Devin is the leader of and Hope attends and cooks for the group as well. Throughout the fall, between game nights and small group Hope and Devin start seeing each other more and more... ARE THEY DATING YET? October both parties start realizing they have feelings for the other and start to hang out together. With a deep mutual love of movies and cinema, most hang outs would be watching movies, which was a vital part of them becoming a couple. A special shoutout to Devin for sitting through Alvin and the Chipmunks: Shipwreck, he really put the work in to win her over. While everyone around them knew they obviously liked each other, Hope and Devin still were just friends. THE WORST FIRST DATE Devin asked her out for her birthday and despite the fact she didn't know it was a date and Devin thought Hope cancelled it for a few days, they finally went out on a date after months of flirting and hanging out. Thank goodness they already liked each other cause it was the worst first date, the restaurant was too loud and they couldn't have a conversation. Despite the awkward date night they still made it official at 10:47 on December 17th 2024. Hope's favorite birthday gift to date. IT'S BEEN A GOOD .... As days, weeks, and months went on Devin and Hope knew more and more this was it, the person they wanted to marry. TopGolf nights, basketball games, walking around DC, many many AMC movie nights, and so many dinner dates that redeemed their first date. Devin and Hope started falling madly deeply in love. RING RING Devin had purchased the ring and received the blessing of Hope’s father for her hand in marriage. The day was finally here to pop the question. Devin had made different set of plans for the special day that all fell through but culminated in surprising Hope after dinner. She walked into the surprise and heard Elvis Presley’s Can’t Help Falling in Love being played. A path of rose petals was laid on the ground leading to the next room where pictures of the two from throughout their relationship were on display amidst lit candles and more rose petals. Devin went to one knee and asked Hope to spend the rest of their lives together. After uncontrollably spinning around multiple times Hope responded with an enthusiastic “It would be my pleasure”.