Our relationship started on this exact day! We met at our church's young adult ministry where I (Rebeca) graduated high school and Austin graduated college. Prior to this day, we've only known each other for less than a month, and our only other date was going on a two mile run. This all started from Austin sliding into my DM's after a bible study night, and we bonded over A&M and running. Modern love. In this photo, I was leading a Backyard Bible Club group in my last summer through the student ministry, and Austin was a new student volunteer that just so happened to accompany my group; we have been supported and loved by our church family since the very beginning. :)

Our first summer together! It consisted of family hangouts, many outdoor and Houston dates, double dates, and young adult nights at our church. At this point, we both felt and made it clear that we saw a future together. I had still yet to start my four years in college, but Austin assured me in every way that he would wait as long as it is needed to marry me. We were planning to get married after I graduate college for wise reasons--even though we both knew it would be hard.

Our mid-distance journey has started! I was a freshman at A&M living in a dorm, and Austin came up to see me every so often for Breakaway. I definitely came down almost every weekend to see him lol (giving past Beca some grace because this is her first relationship ever). We grew to embrace the distance from The Woodlands to College Station as it allowed us to grow individually, strengthen our trust in one another, and make weekend dates even more sweeter.

Austin started working at our church! Prior to this day, pastors and trusted men in the church gave Austin words of knowledge for his life and prophesied over his future. Austin had been working at a sports therapy facility for a few months since the summer and planned to go to PT school to become a physical therapist. After months of working in what seemed to be experience for his dream job, the lord started stirring his heart for ministry. In a few weeks, the lord brought confirmation to the words of wise counsel and gave Austin a passion to pastor students; Austin started working as an intern (currently in the photo) for the student ministry at our church. He dropped what he knew was best for his life to God's calling for his life. The youth ministry is a big part of our relationship which hits home to our hearts.

We hit over one year together!! We learned a lot in the beginning of our relationship, but overall, we learned grace. We learned that growing and learning together with the lord is what makes our relationship flourish rather than expecting to already work well together and have no conflict. Our first anniversary consisted of fro-yo, dancing, and talking in a British accent.

Our first all-day road trip! We went to Austin to go hiking and then Wimberly to go tubing and tour the town. We ended the day going to a llama bar!

Our first wedding together!! We were both in the wedding of our sweet friends (shoutout the Currys!). This was the first of many weddings together as each other's dates. We kept thinking throughout all of them, "one day..."

WE SOAKED UP EVERY WINTER BREAK. On winter breaks, I'm done with classes and therefore home for a month, so it's the longest Austin and I are together besides the previous summer. We soak it up by watching movies, going on adventures, running every so often, going to coffee shops, and spending time with our families!

Our first time reallyyyyy long distance. In summer 2024, I lived in Florida for over two months for my internship at a power plant. This was the longest we've been apart, so it was one of our biggest challenges. We facetimed every night and mailed letters to one another. I've never been more excited to get the mail until this time. It was so sweet to read each others words and encourage each other using scripture.

We hit two years together!! I flew home from Florida for the weekend to celebrate our beautiful friends getting married (shoutout the Jensens!). The wedding and an intentional lunch the next day truly made the short weekend worthwhile. It was hard going back to Florida ahh.

Our second all-day road trip! To DISNEY WORLD!! Austin flew to Florida to visit me not long after I saw him back at home. This day was filled with fun and joy! I've never been to Disney World whereas Austin's been a gazillion times, so it was sweet to journey this day with just the two of us. We somehow managed to go to three parks and still end the day with a three hour drive back to where I lived in Florida! What made this trip so much more memorable was that the lord provided through a friend feeling led to give to Austin, and the woman I lived with gifting me two gift cards specifically for Disney World. Austin ended up spending only a couple hundred including the flight! Praise God!

We had more dates together in CSTAT! This day was one of our favorites as we made pancakes for dinner, drew portraits for one another (ft. the portraits in the photo), went to an arcade, and ended the night walking in Aggie Park talking about our relationship. At this point, we were encouraging each other and the endurance we are walking through in our dating season. Due to my internship delaying my graduation by one semester, we were looking forward to 2025 being the year we get engaged and 2026 being the year we get married.

We had an extra special Valentine's Day. Since the start of 2025, there have been little moments here and there that hinted on Austin and I getting married earlier. I have brushed them off at this point since we battled in the past with getting our hopes up about our dating timeline. At the start of 2025, I was at peace with entering into engagement and that's it. However, we truly believe that the lord opened doors for us and gave us the opportunity to choose our future. I had what I believe a prophetic dream; Austin had more financial provision; I had guaranteed future provision; Austin had wise counsel speaking with him; and I had no commitments on where to live in 2026, despite my pursuit with some people. After talking with more wise counsel, Austin and I prayed and fasted--truly seeking what God wanted for us over what we wanted and over what the people around us wanted. After a week, we had zero clarity and no confirmation, but we did have an abundant amount of peace in both decisions: to get married after I graduate or after my internship in 2025 (around one year earlier). It truly felt like God had his hands open with each decision on each of his hands, and that nothing would delight Him more than seeing us giddy in choosing what we wanted. We felt immense peace that both timelines would glorify God, and that is truly what it's all about. This Valentine's Day, we went ring sizing!!

WE GOT ENGAGED ON THIS DAY!! It truly felt like a dream come true, an answered prayer, an underserved gift, a cinematic movie scene haha! Praise Jesus for this day and all the goodness and blessings he showed us. We are in awe of how he worked our relationship these past two and half years. What a privilege to say "yes" to many more.