Andrew and Eva don’t recall the very first time they met, but they know that it was through mutual friends at church. Andrew moved back to Grapevine after graduating from Texas A&M in 2022. Just one year later, the Lord led Eva to move to Grapevine to finish her undergraduate degree at UTA and to be close to her sister. It was through her, her husband, and other friends that Eva and Andrew were introduced and began spending time together. Both Andrew and Eva were actively involved at Church at the Cross, each serving in distinct yet meaningul ways--Andrew on the worship team, and Eva in the children's ministry. After spending more time together in the Young Adults ministry, they came to recognize a shared passion for the church and a mutual desire to serve generously. During CATC’s youth retreat in January of 2024, Andrew witnessed Eva's joy and her genuine love for others. It was there that he began to see her not only with admiration but also as someone he longed to know more profoundly. In February, the young adults group took a ski trip to Colorado, offering ample opportunities to connect--long car rides, time at the Airbnb, on the ski lifts, and on the mountain itself. These moments allowed for constant conversation and the discovery that they both enjoyed one another's company. Andrew remembers this being a trip of intentional conversation and showing signs of interest, but Eva thought he was just being a good friend. From February to April, Andrew and Eva spent countless afternoons working and studying from coffee shops and the Grapevine library. Both found great joy in these simple, everyday moments. Through these times, Andrew's admiration for Eva deepened, and he realized how much he valued her heart and character. Eventually, he found the courage to ask Eva on their first date, to which she was happily surprised and said yes. On April 27th, they went on their first date which included two things that are important to Andrew: tacos and mini golf. Eva won the round of mini golf, so a second date was needed for a rematch. Back in December of 2023, Andrew committed to joining the launch team for a new church plant in Celina, TX, with plans to move there within the next two years. On the second date, he took Eva to visit the town, play mini golf, and discuss the future of their relationship. If they married, it would mean a new town and a new church. While the idea of marriage tied to Celina was daunting for Eva, beating Andrew at mini golf (again) was not. The next couple of months consisted of conversations about hopes and dreams in marriage, what Celina meant for each of them, the logistics of getting to Celina if they did get married, and how to trust in God through all of it. In September of 2024 Eva's mom passed away after a seven year struggle with terminal cancer. This took place right as Eva & Andrew were beginning to commit to the idea of marriage to one another and as they were thinking through logistics for a potential engagement. Though the funeral and the grief that encapsulated those few months following her death was difficult, it was a God-ordained time for Eva to see Andrew's steadfastness and loyalty to her and her family in a time of mourning. Eva is thankful to already feel confident in Andrew's ability to walk alongside her in seasons of difficulty, and she trusts him heading into a life together side by side. In the midst of all of the mourning and processing in the aftermath of the funeral, through prayer and conversations, Eva and Andrew decided together that they wanted to be married. With the help of some friends, Andrew put together a plan to propose. The details slowly came together over a few weeks all while trying to keep them a secret as Eva tried a few times to find out how it was happening. The location was set, the decorations were picked out, and the photographer was scheduled to be there. On December 22, Andrew asked Eva to marry him, and she said “yes”!