Bethany and I initially met during my first time serving in the Youth ministry at Grace church. Bethany was the first friend that I made at church in Houston. She consistently made me feel seen, welcomed, and valued. Early on, there was interest between us and we wound up going Christmas shopping together at the end of 2021. Ultimately, the timing did not work out, but we remained good friends and would see each other weekly at church. We both always had great things to say about each other and never knew that about the other person!

Fast forward to the summer of 2023 - Bethany mentioned to a couple of our friends that she would be interested in going on a date with me! That same week, I mentioned to the same friends that I would want to go on a date with Bethany. These friends highly encouraged us to explore that interest! Shortly after, my parents visited Houston and we joined a group of friends to go play pickleball. During one of the games, Bethany and I were teammates. At the end of the night, my parents asked me if I liked Bethany. I told them I was planning on asking her on a date. They encouraged the idea!

Bethany and I went country dancing and found ourselves dancing to a song that we danced to shortly after we first met. This song was the last time that both of us spent single. We went on our first official date playing putt putt and walking at Memorial Park. We chose to pursue each other as best as we could and have received tremendous support and encouragement from all of our community around us, our family and friends. Very early into dating, both of us recognized this relationship was going all the way into marriage.

On 11.22.23, I asked Bethany to marry me at the same park that we visited on our first date.

God's timing has been perfect through this entire relationship!