We love to tell this story because it reminds us how perfect the Lord's plan and timing are - far beyond what we could have written for ourselves!

Caroline and James first met in the summer of 2020 in Granby, Colorado. We were both spending the summer working at YMCA properties in Colorado, with James in Granby and Caroline three hours away in Estes Park. James had recently graduated from Murray State and was heading to Memphis in the fall, and Caroline had just finished her freshman year at Samford.

(Caroline's Version)

On June 22, 2020, I went to visit a friend from college who was working at the YMCA in Granby (Caroline Finger, if you're reading this, THANK YOU!). We were joined for lunch by James, a sweet and handsome friend-of-my-friend who piqued my interest immediately, but who was three years older and "probably wasn't interested" (or so I thought). I left that 20-minute encounter wishing that I could see him again, but not knowing how or when that would ever happen.

A full two years passed before I heard from that impressive, goofy guy I met in Colorado, but I hadn't forgotten about him. When he followed me on Instagram in the spring of 2022 (we had both taken breaks from social media since we met), I knew I needed to find a reason to reach out to him. DMs quickly turned to texts, calls, and FaceTimes, and before I knew it, "that guy from Colorado" was coming to visit me in Birmingham!

(James' Version)

Caroline is someone you meet and never forget. That twenty minute conversation led to a year of wondering if I had made a grave mistake. Why hadn't I asked for her number?! Perhaps I thought it would have been too forward of me to do so. Perhaps it was the different seasons of life we were entering into. Perhaps it was nerves. Regardless of my rationale, I was determined to right my wrong... or at the very least not have to wonder for the rest of my life if something could have worked between us. A year goes by and I DM her on Instagram... no response. Understandable... she's probably dating someone already, we hadn't talked in a year, and she's not interested! And so I proceed with my life knowing that door was closed.

In early 2022 I recall taking a walk with Chris Pruett, a friend from Memphis, where we recounted "fork in the road" moments in our lives. Had we made a certain decision at a certain time, where would we be now? I shared with fondness my introduction to Caroline a year and a half prior and how things could have been different. HOW THANKFUL I AM THAT THEY WEREN'T! Just months later I receive a DM from none other than @carolinehcoleman (RIP Caroline's social media presence). In a short time, insta messages turned into text messages that turned into video messages until a 3 hour long first Facetime call ended in plans for me to visit her in Birmingham. Three days into the trip we were dating. 10 months into dating we were engaged, and soon enough I will get to spend the rest of my life with my best friend.