One Wednesday evening, the middle school girls' leaders gathered for a fun night together. Picture a beautifully arranged charcuterie board, Trader Joe's gummy sharks, decadent brownies, and an assortment of fun drinks. As we laughed and caught up, I casually mentioned that I would love to go on a date, but no one was asking me out. Sweet Olivia suggested a particular guy from her husband's Thursday night Bible study—someone who had mentioned he wouldn’t mind being set up. When she showed me his picture, my reaction was instant: "Wow, he’s a man." It was something I had jokingly said I wanted in a husband. Meanwhile, Ryan was actually being set up with another girl, but by God’s grace, he chose to take only me out that week—something that just might have changed everything. A week later, we met for the first time at Handel’s Ice Cream. Our conversation might have been choppy from the nerves, but as we talked about faith, how we met Jesus, our hobbies, and our family backgrounds—all the usual first-date topics, Ryan struck me as incredibly sweet. One of the very first questions he asked was how I became a Christian, which deeply moved me. I knew then that he was serious about finding a spouse who shared his faith which was also my top priority. From the start, I felt safe with him, and my curiosity to know him better grew. At the end of our date, he invited me to a local worship night the following day. I love worship, and with nothing else planned, I gladly accepted. He asked for my number to send me the details. Watching him worship that night was an unforgettable experience—the sight made me even more intrigued by him. The following week, he officially asked me out on a date. He made reservations, picked me up from work, and opened every door for me—a true Southern gentleman, my knight in shining armor. After that, I invited him to a puppet show the next afternoon, and to my delight, he said yes. In return, he invited me to join him and his friends for a summer night volleyball game, and I agreed. We kept saying yes—to game nights with Brian and Olivia (the couple who set us up), to watching fireworks with his friends, to more volleyball matches, a float trip down the river with my friends, and even to a game of pickleball with his friends. Each moment together made our bond stronger, all leading to July 17, 2024—the day Ryan asked me to be his girlfriend. Of all people, he chose me, and without hesitation, I said yes.