David and I first met at GTWY Church in Shelbyville, TN. There was not an immediate dating that followed, but every step of our story was so perfectly written that each detail brings a smile to my face. However, what not everyone realizes, this was not the first introduction we had.

Sometime in the summer of 2022, I had decided to venture into the unprecedented world of online dating. Bumble, Hinge, and so on, had become a new social media platform that kept me entertained and scrolling even mindlessly sometime.

It wasn't until November of 2022 that I saw this cute guy with no smile and a really nice beard and decided to swipe right and take a chance. Luckily for me, he did the same.

We matched. We chatted. He offered to bring me Thanksgiving food when he found out I was sick and stuck at home. I found out he has six siblings and eats cereal out of a plastic cup. You know, it's those first conversations where you learn the important things, I guess.

Due to reasons unnecessary to add to this section, we never met in person and ended up fizzling out of our conversations. I later learned this is when David "put me on the back burner", knowing this wasn't the end of our story.

Fast forward to January of 2023 now. I was in Madison Street Coffee when in walks this cute guy, nice beard, plaid shirt who looks awfully familiar. That's when it hits me and I tell my colleague "uhm, yeah, that guy there….we met on Bumble."

In true Beth fashion, I reached out to David to ask if he had in fact been at my church that morning, to which he replied, in true David fashion, with something sarcastic and witty that made me fear I had offended him! Little did I know that this sarcastic wit would be one of the endless things I would fall for so so quickly (and also something that stresses me out from time to time).

Suddenly, David was EVERYWHERE. Quickly becoming a staple on the security team at our church. Choosing RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE CAFÉ to post up for said security. Assisting my mom and sister in sketchy times. Making jokes about Mother's Day gift prizes. And, my favorite part, ordering not one, but two coffees - EVERY. SINGLE. WEEK. I also started seeing him out and about. At restaurants, walking through parking lots, in the bar. David was literally everywhere I looked. And I noticed it all.

It's important to note that David later admitted that he never drank coffee during the week. He would just drink the coffee on Sundays from me in the café. So basically, he came to GTWY looking for Jesus, but he stayed for the coffee too. (I'm the coffee, in case that wasn't clear enough.)

June 5, 2023, is the day I finally took my shot AGAIN. Texted this man who was suddenly all over the place. Told him I'd love to go out some time and see what could happen.

June 6, 2023, we texted all day long and he sent me a voice message that truly captured the Miami accent.

June 7, 2023, he worked security, I worked in the café.

June 9, 2023, he worked security for Young Adults (which isn't actually a thing, but oh well), followed by our first date at Daddy Billy's!

I also want to call out that June 9th is the wedding anniversary of both my parents (34 years and counting!) and my paternal grandparents (60 years!) It's a date that I have dreamed of getting married on for as long as I can remember. And here we are, making that dream a reality.

Since that date, there's only been a handful of days that we've been apart! We've had a couple solo trips over the last two years, but otherwise, you can typically catch us together. David quickly became my best friend and I cannot imagine anyone else I'd rather spend the rest of my life with than this man.

I could easily go through so many more significant dates and moments of our relationship, but I will summarize with just some final thoughts:

David Charles Rhodes is the greatest man I have ever known. He is loving and thoughtful. He stresses me out, but also calms me. He has sought after my heart from the very beginning. He communicates with me even when it's tough. He gives me the tough love when I need it and the soft love when I want it. He shows me grace. He shows me kindness. He's my adventure buddy. My travel partner. He dances with me in the kitchen (even though he swore he'd never do that). He balances me out. He loves me in the valleys and on the mountains. He is everything I have ever dreamed of and prayed for and I am so thankful God made him just for me!

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