This story began on a cold December day in Utah, I (Josh) was sitting in my car after I had just dug it out of the snow. I had been spending some time catching up with my friend Hellen. She had just asked if I would be okay if she introduced me to a friend of hers from her church in SC. I was letting my car warm up some. As I did the same, I thought about it. In the end, I decided I guess it couldn't hurt to at least talk to her friend. And that fateful day I first learned about Zandi, and how a small decision can change so much in a year. We quickly learned that the one thing we both did well, was talk. We had paragraph long text conversations, and I found out just how passionate Zandi can be about music and the Bible. Soon those texts became five-hour long phone calls. I was amazed at just how easy it was to talk to Zandi, and to listen to her talking. We shared in many interests, and I was impressed with just how much she knew about music, and how much she loved the Lord. I could tell that my heart was quickly falling for this wonderful young woman, and I kept finding myself wanting to get to know her more, and better. I talked to my best friend Robbie about it, I was nervous but very excited with how the relationship was going, but I was not sure if Zandi felt the same way towards me. In May I finally went out to SC to meet her in person. My nervousness was still there, but in my heart had already fallen in love with her. I enjoyed exploring downtown with her, and talking to her in person, and she surprised me by first holding my arm to not get lost in the crowds. I was happy with just how easy it was to be with her, and how we still could talk to each other for hours. I got to meet her parents and spend some time helping her father with yard work. I mustered up some courage during that trip, and chose to write out my feeling for her, and tell her that I was falling in love with her. I was too nervous to say it all, so I wrote out about three pages to tell her how I felt. And as I drove us back from a short hike, I let her read my letter. I was surprised, when Zandi started to cry a little, then leaned over and kissed my cheek. It was such a sweet and beautiful moment, and I was very surprised that she kissed me first. A few days later, I told Zandi I loved her, and she told me how during the trip, she felt as though God was knitting our hearts together. I can say, though it was a sad to leave at the end of the trip, I was even happier than when I came. From, that moment on I had all but decided that I wanted to marry Zandi, but first I wanted her to meet my church and meet my family. I needed to know if Zandi would be willing to marry me and move out to Utah, far away from her family and friends. I was able to get some time off, and have her visit me in Utah. She got to visit with my church, and became fast friends with some of my friends. It was amazing to see how each time we spent time together, God seemed to move our hearts closer together. And during that trip, I made my plan to buy a ring. I did a little plotting and planning with my best friend, to get the ring done before Zandi and I went to Alaska for her to meet my family. There were a few hiccups, but with Robbie's help it all worked out. Then during our trip together to meet my family in Alaska, I enlisted the help of my little brother to take us out to by a river that we used to hike around as kids, and I proposed. My timing did surprise Zandi, but I am very happy to say she accepted. And here we are today, planning out the last bits of our wedding, looking back on how incredible this past year was, and how our hearts have only grown closer with each passing day. And we are eagerly looking forward to starting life together in March. Neither of us knew what that fateful day in December held for both of us. But I can definitely say it is one of the best choices I have ever made. And we can't wait to see what is in store for us down the road.