October 31, 2001

Two Georgia peaches celebrate their first Halloween with an ocean between them, not knowing what the Lord would do in their lives later...

August 19, 2019

18 years later, Emily and Sam start their first days at the same university. The next day they meet during an icebreaker assignment in their Freshman Seminar class, not realizing that the person they'd added on social media months ago will be so important later on.

October 31, 2019

The first point of actual conversation: Instagram DMs about a class activity that was so ridiculous. Just a few weeks later, Sam would invite Emily to the Night of Worship at Watermark, where she'd get plugged in with the college ministry!

December 01, 2019

Just friends! Casually taking a photo outside before seeing Frozen 2 with a group of friends. Nikki took this picture knowing Emily was crushing on Sam big time.

March 05, 2020

Emily and Sam are part of the WM UTD College Ministry, and Emily accepts Christ on the last Nine before spring break! They would continue with re:generation, spend months maturing separately, and then make amends in November 2020. They learn how to be friends without making things awkward.

October 17, 2021

A mutual interest grows, but neither Sam nor Emily are ready for a relationship. All their friends see it though.

April 17, 2022

Easter 2022! By this point Sam voices his intention to pursue Emily, but not until after the school year is over and she gets back to Dallas.

June 18, 2022

FIRST DATE! Kinokuniya, Hanabi, and Somi Somi, followed by a walk on UTD campus where Sam makes it official!

July 09, 2022

Del's date!

July 20, 2022

Fort Worth Zoo date!

August 13, 2022

DMA date!

August 30, 2022

Sam cuts his hair. This is an important memory because Emily likes it a lot.

September 10, 2022

Sunset picnic at White Rock lake!

September 13, 2022

TWENTY ONE PILOTS CONCERT! First concert together, and the biggest date up to this point.

September 24, 2022

Serving at Hideaway, Emily with other college volunteers and Sam with his small group. Wild weekend.

October 01, 2022

First escape room date! Smarties!

October 14, 2022

First dinner with the Jensens as a couple! It goes super well and they have a very special cheesecake...

October 29, 2022

First Halloween couples costume, Giyuu and Shinobu from Demon Slayer.

November 04, 2022

Serving at Uncommon Marriage Conference together!

November 12, 2022

Sam finds a new spot to go to, and they go for a sunset walk through Oak Point Park and Nature Preserve.

November 26, 2022

Sam comes down to meet the Alessandros after Thanksgiving! Bruno is a big fan.

December 07, 2022

First Watermark Family Christmas Concert together!

December 17, 2022

Celebrating 6 months together by going to Gen KBBQ! It's so cold while waiting, so Sam and Emily pass time by checking out stores nearby and taking funny pictures near the heat lamps.

December 18, 2022

Enjoying Rooftop Cinema Club while watching Gremlins for the first time ever! Sam wins giant Jenga while people watch excitedly.

January 14, 2023

Kimbell Art Museum date in Fort Worth. There are beautiful pieces of art including these two, Sam's and Emily's favorites respectively.

January 22, 2023

Watching Emily's Honeybee Biology professor attempt to rescue a feral hive. Sam grows an appreciation for bees while Emily convinces him that they'll have a mini apiary one day.

February 04, 2023

Sam learns that he's really good at surprising Emily along with their friends...

March 25, 2023

Picking Texas Tulips!

April 09, 2023

Easter 2023! Rejoicing in the Lord's love, grace, and redemption, especially within this relationship.

May 17, 2023

COLLEGE GRADUATION! Sam has a BS in Data Science and Statistics, Emily has a BS in Psychology and Child Learning and Development!

May 28, 2023

Going to friends' weddings and longing for their own one day...

June 21, 2023

Celebrating their anniversary after starting long distance! Kinokuniya, Kura Sushi, and Somi Somi...and a thunderstorm!

July 16, 2023

With long distance, video calls become the new normal.

August 02, 2023

Another trip to the Fort Worth Zoo to see Travis the baby elephant along with the brand new big cats exhibit!

September 05, 2023

Sam starts his first big boy job as a Data Analyst! It's here that he starts planning the future...

October 10, 2023

Emily begins her own job journey as she becomes a substitute teacher!

October 14, 2023

A trip to San Antonio to see the Alamo and the Solar Eclipse! San Antonio was in the path of totality!

November 04, 2023

Water Lantern Festival! Sam and Emily talk a lot about their prayers for the future and what God holds for them, even though long distance is hard.

November 21, 2023

Sam designs a something special...

December 05, 2023

Emily has no idea that when she arrives to Dallas in a few days, Sam has already picked up the ring he will be proposing to her with.

December 07, 2023

Emily comes up to join Sam at his first work Christmas party! The food is delicious, and both stomachs hurt by the end of the night.

December 28, 2023

Sam comes down to spend time in Houston after Christmas. They find out running together is super fun!

Celebrating 1.5 years together at Gen KBBQ!

January 01, 2024

Emily picks out the dress she'd like to take engagement photos in and Sam takes it away to hide until the time comes...

February 14, 2024

First and last Valentine's Day spent apart in long distance!

February 16, 2024

Emily wonders if this weekend will be the one where she becomes a fiancée so she takes this picture. She has doubts though because it's Merge Weekend.

Emily and Sam start Merge and get excited for what the Lord has in store for a future marriage!

February 17, 2024

Merge Weekend is completed! Sam and Emily meet the sweetest couples and have a great time with them! The excitement of next steps together beats the nerves from having lots of homework to work through in the coming weeks.

February 18, 2024

Emily and Sam go out to celebrate Emily's birthday, Valentine's, and 20 months together all in one day. But Sam is acting really strange and isn't hungry at all?

Meanwhile Emily is enjoying being spoiled and is excited for their walk at Oak Point in the afternoon!

And then...

YES!!!!!!

Emily and Sam look forward to sharing their special day with their favorite people! Their biggest hope is that when people see them, they see Jesus Christ and His love.