Every time I ask Daniel how to begin our story, he jokingly says "it all began when I was born." While that is not where I want to start telling this story, he does have a point that this all began long before we even knew what God was doing.


Our story all began in November 2023. Luke and Emily, two of our dear friends, introduced us to one another, or at least that is what they tell us, neither Daniel nor I remember that moment. That didn't matter because few weeks later on December 14, we both separately decided to go to our church's Christmas event despite having other plans. That is the night that we remember meeting for the first time, and how we ended up there is a crazy story you should as us sometime. Anyway, continuing on, I told my mom about meeting Daniel and she says, "Oh Aubrey, he is everything you have ever prayed for!" and she was so right, but I told her not to be crazy and tucked away the comment. For the next few weeks we hung out with friends and got dinner once or twice and by New Years Eve we both knew each other were special. We both attended a New Years Eve party at Emily's house and after that he asked me out on our first official date. Summer Moon, a local coffee shop, was the location and the date was January 1, 2024 . While at the coffee shop, Daniel received a call from Darrell, a friend of his from church, and we headed to their barn to watch the Alabama game. Remember, the game where we lost to Georgia, yeah... I haven't watched a game since. Anyway, that was the day we started dating. The 10 months of our dating season has been full of beautiful and intention details from God. I would need to write a book to tell of all He has done, but for now, I will fast forward to November 2, 2024, the day we got engaged. I remember waking up that morning and texting my friend Emily for prayers that I enjoy the day because I wanted him to propose, but thought he wasn't, the irony. That weekend, Daniel's family was in town and they wanted to get dinner at the Grand Hotel, so we got ready and headed to what I thought would be just dinner with his family. That whole story is another funny one you should ask us about sometime. Anyway, he proposed and of course I said yes!


Let me tell you, this whole year has been a whirlwind of beautiful blessing from God that I cannot put into words.


This summer, I was asked by a dear friend what I admired the most about Daniel and I think that will be a fitting way to wrap up this story.
In 2019, I went through a lot of loss in my family and God gave me a verse, Psalm 51:12 - "Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit." In this verse, David is asking God to restore the joy of how God saved him and give him a willing spirit to do what God had for him. How does this tie into what I admire most about Daniel? Glad you asked. Daniel is a man that continually reminds those around him of the joy we can have through the salvation God gives us and he is an amazing picture of what is looks like to allow God to give us a willing spirit to do whatever He has in store. When I think of this man I am blessed to marry, I see Christ in him so clearly and that is what I admire about him the most. This past year of dating and season of engagement, I am constantly reminded of God's goodness and provision.


Daniel, I am ecstatic to be Mrs. Waid soon.