Jacob and I met in the fall of 2020 during our first semester at Mississippi State. We both were involved with the Baptist Student Union on campus and were a part of family groups. Both of our family group moms (small group leaders) were roommates, and we became a part of the same friend group. Since COVID was still very much a thing and Mississippi State was still practicing social distancing, everybody held close to that friend group. We all spent so much time together because that’s all we could do. One Sunday afternoon on the phone with my parents, I was telling them about everyone in the friend group, and my dad asked me who I liked, and I responded with “Jacob. But I’m not going to do anything about it.” Two weeks later we were going out on a date. Who would have thought that a girl from Alabama would be going out on a date with a guy from New York. On our first date, Jacob told me “I want you to know that first I’m chasing after God’s heart and then I’m chasing after yours.” I knew then that this would be different, and that he was special. I am thankful for the Lord’s kindness and mercy in bringing Jacob into my life, and I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life serving the Lord by his side.

Celeste and I met through mutual family groups at Mississippi State University. I am so thankful to God for orchestrating our meeting. We quickly grew close as we both started to spend time in the same friend group. God used someone close to the both of us to tell me that Celeste liked me. Although I knew deep down that I liked her, I was afraid to ask such a beautiful girl out on a date. This gave me the boldness to move forward in our relationship. She was already a great friend, but I knew I wanted to pursue her more intentionally. What would start out as liking each other would soon start to grow into love. I asked her out on our first date where I told her that “I am running after God’s heart and then I am running after yours.” I had no idea what a Christ-centered relationship even was. Although, as my relationship with God grew, he allowed me to have a better perspective on what love truly is. I knew I loved Celeste when I could trust her with everything. In our relationship with Christ, we have to trust him

with everything, and he loves us even though we are sinners. Celeste loves me even though I am a sinner. Even though I fall well short of perfection she makes a choice to love me every day. Therefore, I made the commitment to love her every day for the rest of our lives when I proposed to her on August 12th, 2023. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t thank my God for Celeste. She is a light in this dark world and gives me hope in people who have Christ as their Lord. She is so joyful and loves people so well. I look to Romans 5:8 where it says “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” So this will be my

commitment to Celeste each day, to love her while we both are sinners. I will live my life for Christ and to love my Celeste with all my heart.