I went to a summer discipleship program called Kaleo in 2019. One of my favorite nights of the summer is the rave, and when I saw a certain tall blonde wearing bright blue lipstick and tearing it up on the dance floor, all bets were off. I knew I needed to get to know her more. I got to know her better throughout the rest of the summer, and I was so impressed with how she loved others and pursued God. We ended up having a class together that fall semester, and we studied together quite a bit. If you know me, you know that on my end, I wasn't retaining any information. I was only there to get more time with Emily.
At Kaleo, we would have game nights where students could meet each other and have a break from work. At the first game night I went to I noticed this hot guy who was cracking jokes left and right, and I decided I needed to get to know him. I asked Kate, who led our group, who it was. Surprise, surprise, it was Turner Trcka. I worked with one of the guys in Turner's group, so I constantly schemed to get our groups together. Not only was he hilarious, but I got to watch him lead younger guys as they grew in a relationship with Jesus. He was bold and stood firm in truth. This guy was the real deal. I knew going back to campus I wanted to still get to know him, and we had similar majors, so I purposely took an 8am class he was in. We spent a lot of time "studying" together and getting groups to go with us for late night runs to Gourdoughs. I knew I liked this guy, but I was not going to make the first move.
Once I graduated in the fall of 2019, I started my new job and didn’t really get to see Emily much at all. We didn't talk at all for almost 5 months! During those 5 months, I was able to seek intentional wisdom from the men who knew my life best and ask them to speak into me being ready to date. For me, dating would not be "just for fun". Dating wasn't the destination. I knew that with whoever I dated, I wanted my community to be on board and supporting me. Deciding who I wanted to ask on my first REAL date ever was the easiest decision ever. Emily Avard. She was seriously the funnest person you could ever be around. The one time I talked to Emily in the first 5 months of 2020? When I asked her to go on a date with me. Dating Emily has grown me in so many ways, and it truly has made me develop a deeper abiding relationship with Jesus Christ. Seeing how well she loves and cares for people, I knew that Emily was the woman that I desire so deeply to be united with for the rest of my life.
Once Turner graduated, we obviously didn't have the class together anymore. We didn't keep in touch, but I still thought highly of him. I prayed that God would take away my crush. I trusted that if God wanted him in my life, he would make it happen, so I focused on growing in my relationship with Jesus. Five months later, I have a missed call from the one and only Turner Trcka. He asks me on our first date, making the trek all the way to Kingwood, and had to meet my parents. Turner pursued me in the most respectful, honorable, and selfless way. I have grown so much in my relationship with God because of Turner. He is a great listener, he is so disciplined, so caring, and so. dang. WISE. I am so confident he is the man I want to lead me, protect me, and cherish me for the rest of my life on earth.
There was never a doubt that I wanted to ask Emily to marry me. Though it was a intense season of prayer, asking God if this is what He wills for our lives, this was simply the easiest question I had to ask Emily. There's no one else I'd rather hang out with for the next 60 years.
My exact response to Turner, "YES! Of course! It would be an honor! Yes!". I'm so excited to grow with Turner as God continues to move in our lives and our soon-to-be marriage. I can't wait for the endless laughs, movie marathons, and cabo bobs runs with my best friend.