Andrew & I first met during RA training in August of 2022. Our halls worked very closely throughout training which meant we would be spending quite a bit of time all together prepping for the upcoming school year. Andrew was chatting with one of my friends at the start of an ice breaker our staffs were participating in and I thought I would go introduce myself. Unfortunately, the ice breaker started & I didn't get too far past asking him what his name was. Training for that day concluded and our halls were dismissed until a neighborhood social that evening.

My staff and I headed to the neighborhood social to grab some sweet treats and ended up at the popsicle table at the exact same time as Andrew. This time, he approached me and we had a bit more time for the awkward initial small talk where I found out he was from Austin, Texas (Side note - With going to school in Indiana, it isn't extremely common to hear that someone is from Texas, let alone Austin). If you know the two of us, you know Andrew is very stoic and does not have very excitable reactions to a lot of things and I am quite the opposite, reacting very enthusiastically to the littlest of things - So, naturally, I freaked out and Andrew did not, which led to my awkward excusal from the conversation. To be honest, I didn't really think too much of anything because I wasn't looking for a relationship, but I did notice that our paths kept crossing and I would eventually have to talk with Andrew despite my embarrassing outburst.

The following week, I saw Andrew sitting alone during our lunch hour and asked if he would like some company. He accepted the invitation and my friend and I joined him for some lunch where we had a little more time to get to know one another. Throughout this conversation, my interest certainly started to peak and I realized how amazing of a human Andrew actually is. This led to me asking Andrew to grab coffee, go on a walk, or grab a bite to eat throughout the rest of that week to which I was shot down all 3 times. After declining my offers, I put the ball in his court and just let him know that I would be available to hang out if he wanted to get to know one another on a deeper level.

After about 2 weeks, Andrew and I did start hanging out and actually got to know one another pretty well. I began to really love the person I was talking to and realized how many attributes in him I genuinely admired - His warm and gentle spirit, ability to lead without hesitation, passion for providing and creating something for his future in God, and so many more that showed me Andrew was my happily ever after I thought was only true in fairytales. What's so crazy is the first 5 conversations we had all circulated the 5 themes and values that I set as non-negotiables in a relationship - faith, family, life post-graduation, drive and ambition, and future family. What's even crazier is that neither of us brought up any of these topics during conversation. In fact, I avoided them because I had not planned on starting a relationship any time soon. So I prayed and prayed and realized that this was in fact a sign from God that my forever person was standing right in front of me.

I told Andrew how I felt about him and that I wanted to be as straightforward as possible so I asked if he saw us being better as friends or if he would like to talk more about dating, explaining that I date to marry and I take relationships seriously to make sure he understood my expectations. Andrew, understandably, was a little hesitant and wanted to take a few months before making anything official between us but left the conversation on the note he had full intention to marry me and just needed some time (Which of course I was happy to hear and okay with waiting since I had confirmation from God that this was my forever person).

Andrew and I continued to hang out and after our 3rd date, Andrew decided he couldn't wait a few months and asked me the famous question: "Soooo, if I were to ask you to be my girlfriend, would you say yes?". To which I responded, "Well, is this you asking me to be your girlfriend?". And he answered blushing "No, no, no, I was just wondering...". I answered his initial question smiling, "Of course I would say yes." To which he quickly rebutted, "So, then, will you be my girlfriend?". I answered "yes" and we spent the rest of the evening laughing about how goofy his ask was.

The next few months we fell in love and the rest is history <3

Lauren and I met at the end of the 2022 summer. It was a summer of growth for me where I truly began to lean into my faith and create it for myself. Through this I talked to God about a list of 6 different necessities I would need in a wife and shared them with one of my closest friends, Matt (this will come into play later).

I was in a great hall at Purdue where my RA staff, and a few others, were gathered to talk about self identities. A girl was turned away from me sitting with her knees tucked up to her neck and her feet on the chair. She raised her hand and boldly spoke out to the hall about the identities she felt and what others she had spoken too had talked about. It was the most beautiful voice I had ever heard and I was immediately interested in knowing more about this girl. The day went on and our staff headed outside to play a game. I walked up next to a friend and the same girl with a beautiful voice walked straight up to me and said "Hi I'm Lauren, what is your name?" I then realized that this was not an ordinary girl, she was the most beautiful WOMAN I had ever seen, I was in awe. I probably fumbled to her my name and then the game started so our conversation ended. Our staff meeting ended and I went back to my room to think more about this beautiful woman.

Later that day I decided to go to a staff ice cream social, a rare occurrence for me, and walked over to see what snacks they had. As I grabbed a popsicle I noticed that Lauren had walked up to grab a popsicle as well. We started talking and she asked me if I remembered her name, OF COURSE I DID! I said "Yes, you're name is Lauren" and I think she was a little surprised that I had remembered (During the break I had also done a little Instagram stalking so I was familiar with her name). She asked where I was from and I casually said I lived in Austin Texas. Her eyes and face lit up and she nearly screamed "NO WAY, ME TOO!". I was very laid back and nonchalantly said "o, nice, that's cool". Our conversation very quickly died after that....

Over the next few weeks Lauren kept asking me to hang out. This semester was my busiest semester yet in my life and I was constantly having to tell her no, maybe next time. It was as if I was telling my teacher that my dog ate my homework and yet it actually happened every single day. Then one day I was eating lunch and Lauren asked me to come eat with her and a friend. I said yes and I noticed how much I still loved her voice but also how quirky, beautiful, fun, and loving she was.

I wasn't sure what this was and talked to God to see if I should continue on. I was urged to continue hanging out with Lauren and our conversations continued. (You know how I had talked to God about 6 things I needed in a wife? This is where it comes into play) Lauren and I's next 6 conversations were all brought forth by God and we talked about the 6 things I needed in a wife without me ever bringing them up. I saw this as a HUGE sign from God saying "Andrew, wake up, she's right here!"

Our lunches turned to dinners and our dinners turned to late nights. Our love grew for each other every day and I found myself wanting to be with Lauren every day for the rest of my life. When I was young I always asked my parents how they knew they had found the one and they always said "when you know you know" and I had always been so upset with that because that wasn't really an answer to me. However, I now know they were telling the truth because one of the last conversations Lauren and I had before dating was what we wanted out of our relationship and to which we both replied, I intend to marry you. Lauren and I's love is the truest version of when you know you know and how God brought us together to show us our God Designed partner.