Jacob and Desiree first met during their sophomore year of high school in AP U.S. History. On October 18, 2021, Jacob finally mustered the courage to ask Desiree out. Although they continued spending time together, they never explicitly called their outings "dates," preferring to say, “We’re studying with a friend from class.”

Jacob never formally asked Desiree to be his girlfriend, but on December 29, 2021, he found the courage for their first kiss. From that point on, their bond grew stronger. During winter break, they spent nearly every day together, and after returning to school, they hung out after class. Even when soccer season started, Jacob made it a priority to visit Desiree before practice and sometimes afterward.

One of their favorite pastimes was watching Criminal Minds. They’d pause episodes just to talk and get to know each other better. By summer, they had become best friends. They spent their days boating, traveling to Wisconsin Dells with Desiree’s family, and enjoying each other’s company.

Fast forward to their senior year: the couple went to Gulf Shores with Jacob’s family. For Valentine’s Day, Jacob surprised Desiree with a sand sculpture that read “Happy V-Day, Des.” Desiree was speechless. As graduation approached, they faced the challenge of a long-distance relationship but remained committed to making it work.

A pivotal step in their journey was joining Salt Company, a college ministry. It was here that they began dedicating their relationship to glorifying the Lord. Transitioning into their freshman year of college came with its challenges, especially going from seeing each other daily to only a couple of times a month. Despite the difficulty, this season turned out to be a hidden blessing.

Separated by distance, they leaned on their faith. Desiree began attending Salt Company regularly, where she formed deep, lasting friendships. Jacob turned to Scripture and sought spiritual guidance from his friend Griffin. At the Salt Conference, they both experienced a spiritual awakening. During a breakout session on social media, a speaker’s words struck a chord: “Why wait? There will never be a perfect time or place. Do what glorifies the Lord.”

This sparked a conversation about marriage. On February 11, 2024, Desiree was baptized, a milestone that solidified their commitment to each other and to God. From that moment, their relationship grew deeper. They began calling each other multiple times a day, doing Bible readings together, and praying for their relationship to flourish under God’s guidance.

By the summer of 2024, they realized the best way to honor the Lord in their relationship was through marriage. Confident in their love and God’s plan, they decided there was no reason to wait. They were ready to begin the rest of their lives together, hand in hand, with faith at the center of their journey.