Tyler I met Kelli in March of 2021 playing disc golf. She was invited by a mutual friend, and I remember her being pretty good for her first time! She was quiet though, and didn’t seem to have any interest in any one-on-one conversations with me. We continued hanging out with other friends where we got to know one another in a group setting. It wasn’t until June that I started liking her as more than a friend. We were going to a Rangers baseball game with friends, and when I saw her that afternoon, I just remember her being so beautiful and I knew I wanted to pursue her. Unfortunately, I was going through a Biblical 12-Step class at our church at the time called Re:gen, and in order to focus on myself and the class, I had committed to not dating until after it was completed. We continued hanging out in groups, and my feelings for her continued to grow. In August, I ended up telling her how I felt and my intent to pursue her, however I would have to wait until after Re:gen ended in February to do so. We continued hanging out in groups, but we would also run together on Saturday mornings to train for our race, and I volunteered to mow her lawn and help her with minor projects around her house she just bought. It was obvious we wanted to pursue each other, but we both wanted me to keep my commitment. In October, my friend Cody and I discussed my commitment and the importance of keeping it, but he also asked me to consider what if the Lord was allowing me to begin dating her sooner? After much council with my mentor and community group, and then prayer and fasting, I felt Him opening a door to begin dating her. I explained to her how I came to this decision, and I officially asked her out. Our first date was at the Alliance Air Show. I’m so grateful for our story and how the Lord brought us together, and how He ultimately grew me closer to Him in the process. Seeing His hand work though trusted friends and mentors, and how He taught me to be patient and wait for His timing, but then giving me the gift of dating her sooner than I originally thought was such a joy. Kelli I first met Tyler while playing disc golf with mutual friends in March 2021. Apparently, I was quiet and didn’t talk much. It was my first time playing and I was trying to not be terrible. I remember him being nice but that was about it. We continued to hang out in groups of friends that spring and summer. Somehow through this group of friends, Tyler and I were set to play a one-on-one basketball game. Tyler trashed talked and I couldn’t let him win. One friend bet $100 on Tyler to beat me. Tyler lost and jokingly I sent that friend a Venmo request for $100 for not believing in me. I said if he fulfills the Venmo request then I would sign up to run a race with Tyler. I thought the request would be ignored but to my shock it wasn’t and I now had to hold true to my word. I signed up for this race and Tyler and I began to train together. Our friendship grew but I never thought about it being anything more. At the end of the summer, I learned that Tyler liked me but made a commitment not to date so that he could focus on going through Re:gen, which is a Biblical recovery ministry at our church. He wanted to pursue me but was going to wait until he commenced from his program. We continued to be friends as I did not want to interfere with his commitment. With many training runs and slowly starting to spend more time one on one together, I started to like Tyler more and could see a future with him. I was doing my best to be patient and wait for him to finish his commitment. However, after seeking counsel from his community group and mentor as well as praying and fasting, he decided to pursue me in October 2021. We went on our first date on October 23, 2021 to the Air Show and the rest is history! God writes the best stories! I have seen His hand all over our story and we give God all the glory for how He has worked in both of our lives to bring us together!

Tyler Before we were dating, we had a race out in Tyler, Texas, where I was running the half-marathon and she was running the 10K. We were supposed to have several friends running it with us, but due to sickness and injuries, it ended up being just us. Kelli’s grandparents were nice enough to let us use their timeshare out in Tyler, which is on Lake Palestine. That Friday evening before the race, we walked around the lake and enjoyed a beautiful sunset. I wanted to propose at the same place, but I needed an excuse to get her out to Tyler. I had my buddy Josh (groomsman) say he was coming to Shreveport, Louisiana for work, and that he wanted to grab dinner with us somewhere halfway. Kelli and I drove out and went to the Tyler Rose Garden, where Josh called me and ‘cancelled,’ saying he had another meeting come up. Kelli and I still went to dinner and then to the lake, where I had my co-worker waiting to take pictures and capture the proposal. We took a short walk next to the lake, and then found a spot with the sun setting behind us, where I proposed and she said ‘Yes.’ Kelli In October 2021, Tyler and I took a walk around Lake Palestine in Tyler, TX at sunset the night before a race (half marathon for him and 10k for me). All our friends had bailed due to injuries so it just was us. Two weeks later we went on our first date. On 9/30/2022, we returned to Tyler, TX to "meet his friend for dinner." Said friend called to cancel while we were walking around the rose garden. We ate dinner at my favorite Mexican food place. Tyler was trying to stall so that we would end up at the lake at sunset. He told me timing was perfect to head to the lake at sunset. I'll never say no to a sunset. So we found ourselves back at Lake Palestine at sunset. We walked around the marina and then he sat me on a log in front of the lake. I later found out he did this to ensure the photographer he had arranged to be there was ready, but he then changed his mind and decided to just go for it instead and needed me standing for the shot. I was not cooperating at his attempts to get me to stand. He said "Kelli, come over here." I finally got up and was on my way when he says "look! a big dead fish!" And there was a big dead fish and that is where he asked me to marry him. It was a perfect night and a beautiful sunset! Perfect proposal for us!