One 100 degree day in late May, Dane and I went hiking outside of Austin, Texas. The landscape was an odd mix of a western movie desert, yet a tropical paradise at the trail’s end. A stunning waterfall awaited us, offering a perfect place to swim and cool off, as well as a place to sit down and eat the lunch that we packed. The simple joy of being outdoors together is something I cannot forget.

After our hike on the drive home, we pulled off the side of the road for dinner, finding an eclectic little Mexican restaurant. Crocodile statues, oversized chairs, and tiki huts, this wannabe island paradise was what we thought to be an excellent ending to our day. We thought wrong. Two minutes into our drive after dinner, my tire popped. Dane graciously changed my tire, allowing us to set back out on our 100 mile journey back to Waco, this time limited at 45mph. The day actually ended with a (very) leisurely cruise down I-35. With all of the imperfections of this day, I treasure this memory for the perfection time together. It was genuine, enjoyable, and full of shared moments.

Just a few months in to dating, we went on a road trip to Alabama with our friends, Cam & April. It was over the course of this trip that I truly realized how beautiful of a relationship Claire and I were going to have. The two 11 hour car rides, mornings watching the sunrises on the beach, reading and praying together, and the meals cooked provided un-rushed time to get to know each other and the desires we had for this relationship. Claire amazes me. I have never met another person so intentional, loving, wise, and generous as the woman of God I get to date. I cannot express the joy I have felt in getting to have more fun than I could imagine while dating. Looking back, one of the moments that makes me laugh the most was our gourmet dinner, paired with a $3 bottle of wine, that Claire crafted from the only store around; Dollar General. Every day was full of laughter, yet also with serious conversations over the uncertainty of our future and our need to submit control to God. He has not let us down. He has far exceeded our hopes and expectations. Dating Claire has been a gift from God.