The year was 2015. The setting was the University of Dubuque in Dubuque, Iowa. The main stars are Spencer Bronson and Christine Lurhuma.

Spencer has always been two years older than Christine, so the story begins when Christine steps foot on campus as a freshman and Spencer is a junior.

During Christine’s first week of school, she saw a tall man walking across the campus, and she couldn’t believe her eyes because she thought he was incredibly handsome, but she was too nervous to talk to him. Spencer and Christine were in a similar friend group as he was a member of the university’s men’s basketball team and Christine was a member of the university’s cheer and stunt team. But, while they would see each other around campus, they still never spoke to one another.

One day, Christine was standing next to Spencer and finally found the courage to talk to him. The only thing that she could get to come out of her mouth was one word. Hello. Spencer turned to her and said hello as well. But that was it! They only said that one word to each other and never spoke again for the rest of the two years before Spencer graduated.

Two years after his graduation, Christine sees Spencer post a video of himself in his military uniform, and she knew that THIS was her way in as her father joined the U.S. Army when she was five years old and is still Active Duty to this day! Since they had this new common ground, Christine messaged Spencer and their communication journey began.

They started talking every day but for some reason, Spencer could not see that Christine was trying to flirt with him! Since he wasn’t realizing her attempts, Christine decided that they would just remain good friends. As the years progressed, they grew closer and connected more and more and truly were building a solid friendship. They would check on how each other were doing and be there for one another through the good moments and bad moments.

One day, Christine spoke about how she loved men in uniform and Spencer asked if she would even like a guy like him in uniform. Christine decided she would spill the tea to Spencer about how she had a huge crush on him through college, so of course she thought he looked amazing in uniform. And here’s the twist…Spencer told Christine that he had always had a crush on her as well! Spencer said he had a crush on her from the first time they met and spoke that one word to each other. Who knew that one word had that much power?

Rather than jump into a relationship, they decided to take this time to build themselves up and grow their friendship into a romantic relationship. They connected on new levels and built a strong, lasting love. They met for the first time and instantly knew that this was the person they wanted to be with. They both met each other’s families and Spencer asked Christine’s father for his permission to date his daughter first and then a year later he asked for his blessing to ask Christine to marry him!

It took the pair two years to say one word to each other. Then another two years for Christine to reach back out to Spencer. Then another three years of friendship. And finally, one year of dating for them to take the next step and see they were meant for each other! I guess some things really do take a long time.

God knew His plan for the couple, and He showed them that you could truly be standing in front of the person that you were destined to be with, but if you both haven’t grown in yourselves and in Him, then you won’t notice each other’s true feelings for the other.

One piece of advice the couple will always remember comes from The Supremes and it’s,

“You can’t hurry love

No, you just have to wait

You gotta trust, give it time

No matter how long it takes!”

Mass Times

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church