Two months before his graduation from Schreiner University, I met Josh at a local school event where we were both volunteering. I remember being drawn to his easy smile and the way he genuinely engaged with everyone around him. As we worked side by side, he took the time to ask me about my interests and future goals, listening intently as I shared my aspirations. That simple act of curiosity and kindness left a lasting impression on me, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something special about him.

A couple of weeks later, Josh surprised me by asking if I wanted to study together for an upcoming test. My heart raced at the invitation; I had developed a crush on him and couldn't believe he wanted to spend more time with me. With a mix of excitement and nervousness, I accepted, and our study sessions quickly turned into hours of laughter and shared stories. From that moment on, we became inseparable, forging a connection that felt as natural as breathing. When graduation day arrived, we both knew that what we had was incredibly special, despite the miles that would soon separate us.

Josh moved to Houston for work, and I found myself falling deeper in love—not just with him, but with the warmth of the Newman family that welcomed me so openly. Every weekend we spent together only strengthened our bond. One evening, after a particularly wonderful date, I mustered the courage to express my feelings in a letter. I slipped it into his backpack as we said our goodbyes, my heart pounding with anticipation. When he read it, he called me, and to my joy, he was the first to verbally say, “I love you.” That moment solidified the foundation of our relationship, proving that distance could never diminish the love we shared.

Now, as we stand on the brink of our future together, I reflect on how our long-distance relationship has forged an unbreakable bond. Josh is my best friend, my confidant, and my unwavering support through every stage of life. He is truly one of a kind—a sweet, genuine, and hilarious soul who brings joy to everyone he meets. I am beyond blessed and grateful to share this life with Joshua, and I cannot wait to celebrate our love with all of you. Thank you for being a part of our special day!

I first laid eyes on Aisha in my final year of undergrad while in attendance at a university soccer game. My friends and I were enjoying the game, when suddenly Aisha, in all her beauty, strutted along the sideline right in front of me. I had never seen a girl with such beauty and confidence. Considering this was my senior year at school with a total population of around 1,300 students, I thought to myself, “Who is this girl? How have I never seen her before? Is she new? Where did she come from?.” From this point on I started my quest to meet her.


A couple weeks had gone by and I had yet to talk to Aisha. I would see her eating in the cafeteria and passed by her a couple of times in the hallways, but could never muster up the courage to talk to her. It wasn’t until one of my roommates, who by this point knew that I was crushing on her, heard through a mutual friend that Aisha was going to be at an upcoming school volunteer event. I knew that if I didn’t at least talk to her there, I would most likely never get the opportunity to again. As that day came around, I was nervous yet excited to finally meet this girl I had been after all this time. During the event, I made it a goal to eventually end up at the same station as her. Once we got to the same station and we started talking, I quickly found out that her personality was as beautiful as she was. A couple weeks later, after multiple study dates, I eventually mustered up the courage to ask her to become my girlfriend and she quickly said yes.


We made the tough decision to stay together after I graduated, knowing that we would likely be long distance for several years to come. Boy am I glad we made that decision. I took a gap year to build me resume for dental school and Aisha finished up her last year at Schreiner, becoming valedictorian, slight flex. By the time she finished her school I had already matriculated into dental school. Although there was hope we would attend the same professional school, things didn’t work out and we wound up going to two different schools a couple states apart.

Two professional school students attending universities in separate states at the same time sounds like a recipe for disaster, but for us, it worked. We managed to master the long distance relationship. We spent hours and hours on FaceTime talking, watching movies, studying together, cooking the same meals, playing games, and really growing our relationship. During this time, Aisha quickly became the most important person in my life. Although we were in two different locations, she was always there when I needed her as if she was actually there in person.


After successfully enduring long distance for 3 years, we both knew that if we could do that we could quite literally get through anything together. With the help of family and family friends, I surprised Aisha with a proposal on the side of a mountain in freezing cold temperatures during a family ski trip in Utah. It was truly one of the greatest moments of my life. From that point on, my love for Aisha has only increased exponentially.


Aisha is everything I could ever dream of—selfless, determined, caring, humble, beautiful, and wonderfully goofy. Marrying her is the greatest honor of my life, and I can’t wait for June 7th. Aisha, I love you more than words can express.