Emma Jo and I first met in the summer of 2021, over FaceTime. Emma Jo doesn’t remember this, but she FaceTimed one of my friends while she and I were both working as camp counselors - at different camps - for the summer in Texas. It was nothing but a brief “hey nice to meet you.” In August of 2021 when we were both in Auburn for fall semester classes, we met again (this one she remembers) in a friend’s car on the way to a worship night. We talked some and I’d say that’s where our friendship began. From there on out, we were friends, hung out in big and small groups, and sorta knew each other on surface level. I had no romantic interest in her and she had no romantic interest in me. We were definitely in the friend zone. So much so, that she played wingman for me on a couple occasions - helping me ask other girls on dates. This went on throughout the spring of 2022 - us being friends and her playing wingman on occasion.

Also throughout that time, Emma Jo and I were going through team prep and training because we were both part of the Youth Hostel Missions (YHM) mission trip team. We were part of a team of 7 that backpacked through Europe for 3 weeks in May ’22 sharing the gospel. During the training leading up to May, Emma Jo and I (and the rest of the team) got to know each other on a deeper level - how we communicate, how we like to spend time, how we feel most loved and cared for, what makes us annoyed, our natural tendencies to frustrations, and so on. This was really great to learn about each other and I think it’s definitely given us a leg up in the early stages of our relationship. Going into YHM in May ’22, I considered Emma Jo as the person I was closest to on the trip - still as a friend of course. There was a rule on YHM that we couldn’t date anyone on the team - during the trip. But, most definitely throughout the trip Emma Jo and I flirted up a storm. There was no rule about that I don't think- so we were all clear. We did however, clarify our friendship at the start of the trip and said it was best to probably not flirt while on the trip (apparently this is when I started flirting more).

About halfway through the trip while on a very long hike in Switzerland, Madison Lusk (now her matron of honor) asked me if I liked Emma Jo. I think I paused for a moment then said something like, “I don’t know, I’ve never thought of her like that.” She talked about how she definitely thought we were compatible and brought out a lot of good in each other. At the end of our conversation she said something like “Well if you don’t decide to go after her then you should look for someone very much like her.” It was funny that Madison said this to me because she was the one ~enforcing~ the rule about no dating other people on the team. All of this definitely made me think, but I decided that we were still just friends in my eyes. When we finally got back home from the trip, Emma Jo drove me from the church back to my apartment. I told her I thought we should have a clarifying conversation and once again friend-zoned her and told her I saw her as a sister….ouch. That was apparently tough for her to hear, but I couldn’t tell and in the moment she said she agreed and thought it would be good for us to have those conversations every now and then.

From then on during that summer, we texted each other almost every day - as friends lol. And I was definitely the one who would text first most of the time. Around the end of July, I went on a somewhat random first date with a girl. The date was fine, but throughout the date I found myself thinking about Emma Jo… on the drive home I thought about her even more and this is when I realized I really did like Emma Jo.

So now at this point I knew for sure that I would ask her out on a date. I just had to hold off for a few more weeks until we saw each other again in Auburn for the fall ’22 semester. 1 week since we were both back into Auburn, I finally nervously - very nervously - asked her on a date and told her how awesome she is. The first date was outstanding. We went to a restaurant in Auburn called Amsterdam for dinner then I surprised her when we went and played real life fruit ninja pretty much with a machete and some fruit we bought. We went on either 4 or 5 more dates before I decided to ask her to be my girlfriend. I’m a thinker.

On September 16, 2022 we became girlfriend and boyfriend. The moment I asked her to be my girlfriend was in the car on the way to the fair in Newnan on. Not very great timing plan for me. That would have been pretty awkward if she had said no and we were stuck in the car for the rest of the ride. But I was pretty confident in her answer. So when we finally got to Newnan, I met her parents, Mr. Brent and Mrs. Mona, as boyfriend. Since then, our relationship has grown tremendously. We made it clear from the very start - during one of our first few dates - that we believe dating is most definitely for the purpose of evaluating for marriage. With that in mind, we individually made decisions to continue dating.

As I’ve gotten to know Emma Jo more, my affection and love for her has only deepened. After about a year of dating, I made the decision to ask Emma Jo, on September 29, 2023, if she would spend the rest of her life with me and she said yes! Though Emma Jo is more than just a friend now, she is still my best friend. She is beautiful, loving, fun, funny, inviting, authentic, passionate, cool, caring, warm, honest, bold, steadfast, driven, supportive, and I could go on and on. I am very thankful for Emma Jo. I’m far better off with Emma Jo than without and I cannot imagine life with anyone else. I cannot wait for us to become one as husband and wife!

The first time I remember meeting Ethan was on our way to a church event, and what’s funny about it is that I was in the WORST mood and honestly paid little attention to him- though I definitely took notice of how cute he was! From there, I remember seeing him around, as we ran in the same circles. I specifically one night remember running into him at a date party, and I asked Kennedy, my roommate, “should I have a crush on Ethan?” AND THEN asked the same question to her (and myself) when he showed up at a coffee shop we were at and did some homework with us. Nothing became of it, but after this we became friends, and frequently hung out in small group settings. We genuinely had no feelings for each other and I NEVER wondered where I stood with that! He was always clear and kind about our friendship.

Amidst this, we were both selected to go on YHM, a mission trip in Europe with our church. We spent 3 weeks together in 6 different cities in Europe sharing the Gospel with strangers in hostels! If you know me, you know my heart for overseas missions, and there was no way I was letting anything get in the way of being there and investing in people/my relationship with the Lord. But while we were there, for the first time, I WAS unsure of where I stood with Ethan Faust- because I thought maybe just maybe he was flirting with me! I got a little too confident in this assumption and actually ended up asking him to a wedding in my hometown. At the time I told myself it was because he was one of my best guy friends, but I definitely was starting to have feelings for him. I talked to Madison about it a lot for sure. (My now matron of honor!!) Then, I specifically remember in one of our last countries I spent a whole day alone, talking to God about the whole thing- and I asked myself “If Ethan were seriously flirting with me, how would I feel?” And it was then that I was like haha yup I’d like it because WOW I have feelings for him!! I was still unsure of where he stood but the flirting made me feel hopeful, and if anything we had a wedding to look forward to!

We wrapped up our trip and Ethan wasted no time reminding me that he doesn’t like me in that way, and totally friendzoned me in the car as soon as we got back in the States. Major ouch moment as he mentioned, but I respected his honesty and took what he told me at face value. But that made the wedding SO hard, especially because he gave all the indications that he liked me by coming to that! That man drove 3 hours, took me to ice cream after the wedding, we went to breakfast the next day, saw a movie, and also grabbed a super late lunch??? So literally went to the wedding AND then spent the entire next day in my hometown together. Let me tell you, I was more confused than ever when he left Newnan- but also more interested than ever! I had a big fat crush for sure! But when he kept texting me that summer- I tried to remind myself that he was clear with me about where he stood, and we were just friends. I had no idea he had feelings for me or intentions to ask me on a date- so I asked Madison how I should tell Ethan we had to stop communicating in the way we were because it was misleading for me.

Madison who had witnessed all the back and forth flirting with us on the trip, heard about the wedding, and saw some of the texts point blank told me “if that boy doesn’t ask you on a date in the next week you WILL no longer contact him- he has had ample amounts of time to do so” to which I agreed! I was seriously prepared to not talk to him anymore— lolllllll. BUT luckily less than a day later- Ethan asked me on our first date! I had never seen him so nervous, and I should have made him sweat more but I was SOOOO psyched he asked and honestly totally surprised!! I immediately said yes!!

Anyone who knows our story knows I was smitten from the start. I definitely still feel that way- I can’t believe I snagged him! Our first date was great and each one better than the last. I got to see more of Ethan, and love more of him too! I already knew of his great attributes through our friendship and YHM- but grew/grow more amazed at who he is with each encounter. Ethan is honest, selfless, observant, consistent, funny, loving, real, kind, patient, and just a man after God’s own heart. I learn so much from him each day, and I cannot wait to learn from him forever! Here’s to our future, and praise God for our past and present!