I remember seeing Ben when he was first moving in, and I thought he was really cute. I didn't know anything about him (besides his name), but I was really hoping I'd get a chance to meet him. Fast-forward to two weeks later and he walked right into the building I worked in on-campus! I introduced myself while I walked him to the office he was looking for. I hoped he would walk back by the front-desk on the way out so I could talk to him some more but he snuck out the back door (booooo Ben).

The next day, I saw him eating alone in the lunch room, and, since I had been inviting new students to eat with my friends and I, I asked him to come and join us. He said yes and began to gather his stuff, and I thought I was being really nice (check out Ben's version to see what he thought LOL). Throughout lunch I did my best to include him in group convos while also asking him questions here and there to get to know him. He mentioned that he worked in Lexington tutoring kids with learning disabilities, and I-- a girl with a special education degree-- was officially intrigued.

Luckily, we shared several mutual friends (shoutout to Charlie, Jon, and Carly Brooke) so we ended up in the same spaces quite a few times. Some banter over texts eventually turned into me inviting him to do homework with me, and when he turned up in under 15 minutes (when I know he was hammocking somewhere easily a 15 minute drive away) with only a book he was reading for fun I figured it was only a matter of time until he asked me on a date haha. A week or so of homework hangs, walks, and coffee trips later he invited me to go to the bookstore with him. I definitely should have been working on a paper I had due that weekend, but I also said yes when he said he wanted to go hang out at High Bridge park after the bookstore (and in my defense he also knew I had this paper due). Eventually, we ended up at Unify with him reading another for fun book he had picked up that day and me slaving away over the paper I kept ignoring.

Little did I know that me continuously procrastinating on this paper would ruin his plans for a first date because he told me a few days later, "I keep trying to ask you on a date, but you won't finish this stupid paper." To which I promptly responded, "Well I haven't finished the 'stupid paper' because YOU keep asking me to hang out, and I've been waiting for you to ask me on a date." 10/10 blame shifting on my part tbh. However, my procrastinating gave him like four days to plan our first date, so you're welcome Ben <3

Our first date was so beyond perfect! He planned a hike with a picnic-- he had asked Gabbie for all my favorite snacks and drinks and also made FRESH BREAD, LIKE HELLO????? A while beforehand, I had mentioned that I LOVED stargazing, and our date ended with him taking me to go stargazing at a spot that we now reference as our spot:)

Over the first few months of our relationship-- aka before it was literally freezing outside-- we went to our spot every chance we got. It was where we had our first kiss, where we talked about our dreams and aspirations, where I saw my very first shooting star. It reminds me of how quickly Ben "saw" me. How he remembered a little detail many would probably blow off then went above and beyond to incorporate it in our story. His intentionality in listening and moving to action meant the world to me then and it means the world to me now. He literally moved boulders for me so the space could be clear, and he arranged a path so I wouldn't fall. Flash forward almost a year after that, and it's where he proposed :)

I'm honored that the place where I first started to fall in love with him is where we got to start our next chapter together.

This tale is 100% accurate and should be taken as the only true source of information for this story.

My first time meeting Cameron was at the Seminary's help desk. I had gone in looking to file some financial documents and she was sitting at the help desk. She kindly directed me to the wrong place and I was blessed to spend 15 or so minutes with Liz Ramos—who would become a very close friend.

Cameron (as an RA) saw me sitting alone during the lunch hour reading a book—a habit I find very enjoyable and relaxing—and felt the need to come ask me to join her and her friends at the table. I was a new student, and as someone introverted nature I felt like I had to go join them and saying no was not on the table—much to my dismay. It was here I got to talk to her and get to know a little of her story. It is sad to say that my first impression had not been fully assuaged at that point but I did find her a joy to talk to. She was (and is) incredibly smart, sassy, and never afraid to speak her mind, all things that made talking to her amazing.

Over the coming weeks we would interact in small ways through mutual friends and I would develop a small crush on her. Spurred on by friends and a desire to get to know her better I made the active effort to spend as much time with her as I could. What this really looked like was me initiating one or two times but more often than not simply saying yes, regardless of the situation, to Cameron's relentless pursuits of me (asking me to do homework).

I distinctly remember the first time I knew that I must like this girl rather a lot. I had just visited her apartment for a movie night with friends and discovered to my great dismay a dog residing there. My long standing dislike of dogs battled my interest in Cameron and that interest won decisively without much effort.

As we proceeded to spend more time together I will be the first to admit a fell pretty hard. It was amazing to connect with someone emotionally and intellectually. This proceeded to many long hang outs and various adventures as I tried to figure out if she was interested. I would like to make it clear, no matter what anyone else says, SHE DID NOT GIVE ME ANY SIGNS!

Eventually it got to the point that I was so frustrated with her as she relentlessly procrastinated her homework to spend time with me, as I was trying to ask her out, that I straight up just said to her that she was making it difficult to ask her out. This, on top of my top notch flirting skills, made for a decisively romantic knock-out punch and she agreed to go on a date.

It must be said that I did consult many friends as I agonized day and night over this date. However, better sense prevailed and I decided to just do something me (and incorporate a few tidbits from her). It was bomb—read her story for details—my nerves were shot leading up but I had never felt so natural with another person.

Cameron is one of the most amazing people I have ever met. She is kind and thoughtful. She will sacrifice so much for those she cares for and desires to love and serve her friend in a way I have never seen before. She love the Lord with her whole heart and drives me every day to be a better man of God. She is still sassy and dripping with enough sarcasm to fill a bath tub, always read to call me out. She is, however, the most amazing partner I could have ever asked for. I was not expecting to meet her in this season of my life but God has given me a partner that I know I can depend on for the rest of my life. I am so thankful for all she is, all she does, and everything that has allowed us to be together today.

P.S.—there is another man in her life. He is wildly frustrating and can be disobedient to a fault. That being said, he is one of the most unexpected blessings that I have received in a long time. He is begrudgingly cute, though often disheveled, he has been Cameron's friend though it all and I am now privileged to say that he is mine too. Whilst he has not changed my opinion on his species as a whole, he is a blessing to have around despite the constant reminders he came in the package deal!