After Thomas was freed from his past life of sin, having recently been saved, he started looking for a church to attend. He visited some unbiblical churches he wasn't a fan of, so his cousin recommended he visit his church Grace Baptist to be spiritually fed like he needed, so he did around the end of July. He LOVED it, as Scripture was the primary focus – so he kept coming. Very soon after, someone caught his attention, as if when she walked in she commanded the room and all eyes were on her. She ran the video at the back booth, and began to ask his cousin about her. Come to find out, she was the pastor's daughter, and played basketball... that was his in! She ended up introducing herself one Sunday night (because she wanted to meet him too) to break the ice. He mustered up the courage to finally go up to her the next Sunday during fellowship time and talk to her about basketball. It was a very short conversation, but it was the first of many conversations to come after that. She asked if he would come back in the evening, and he said his truck was having problems but he'd make it happen for sure... and he did. We began having long conversations almost every Sunday night after the service from that point on, and the rest was history. Thomas was very open about his past, and Lauren was very open about her dating history, her past hurts, and what she was looking for. She only had one relationship as an adult, and had a history of over a decade of online dating failures. She was worn down and giving it over to the Lord. She even wrote an article for the church on biblical courtship and how it's not truly trusting the Lord if we think He can't/won't bring our future spouse into our lives just because the circumstances look impossible, so we go everywhere else to find that person by our own efforts rather than trusting that He hears our specific prayers and will answer them in HIS timing and ways. This article was the breaking point which gave Thomas the confirmation he needed that this woman was one who loved the Lord and wanted a godly relationship like he did. Thomas knew it was a long-shot based on his past, but from that point on he pursued Lauren intentionally hoping to win her heart – coming to her house with flowers, texting and calling her consistently, showing up to church every week not only to see her but to show her he was serious about the Lord and the local church, etc. It all worked, because things seemed to move fairly quickly from that point on. Lauren felt just as drawn to him as he did to her. After time apart for vacations, the feelings only grew as we talked on the phone throughout. Once we came home, we didn't waste any time, we went out on our first date the same evening Lauren flew in. Less than a week later we were in a relationship. Two weeks after that we had both said "I love you." By around Valentine's Day we knew we wanted to get married... well, Lauren did at least. Little did she know, Thomas had told his friend Mackenna soon after we had our first conversation at church, "I think I'm going to marry the pastor's daughter." And little did he know, I had been praying for over 10 years that the Lord bring my future husband to my church, and someone to seek me out and pursue me. Here we are 6 months later, getting engaged and preparing for marriage! Pray specifically friends, God answers prayers in amazing ways even when we think it looks impossible. His timing is perfect, despite our impatience. Stay faithful, and He will provide according to His glory and our good.