Matthias and I met when I started working at Chick-Fil-A in January of 2023. I noticed him immediately. A couple of weeks after I started we worked our first shift together. I was still in training at that point, but being the over-confident person that I am, I decided that I would try to impress him with my skills. Which I did not have. But, I tried anyway. This pathetic attempt at making a good first impression ended with me spilling lemonade all over his head. I was mortified, but he responded with such kindness and an amazing sense of humor that I was even more certain that I wanted to get to know him better.

Over the next few weeks, we started getting to know each other, and became very good friends. He quickly became my best friend at work and I was so excited for every shift I had the chance to work with him. The more I got to know him, the more I realized that he was one of the sweetest, funniest, Godliest men I had ever met.

The more time we spent getting to know each other over lunch breaks, the more I realized that he was everything I had prayed for. I was about to leave for college and the timing didn't seem to fit with the plan I had for my life, so even though I knew I was falling for him, I didn't say anything. Thankfully, God knew His plan was better than mine. As college approached, I wondered if he felt the same way, and worked up the courage to seek some advice from another friend at work. Then, just as college was starting, he finally asked me out on a date.

We both very quickly knew that God was doing something amazing. It was sooner than either of us had expected, but we had absolutely no doubt that God was in it.

I am so grateful that God brought Matthias into my life. Around his friends and family, he goes by Ty. He is the hardest worker I have ever seen, no matter what he is doing. He really loves olives, and tries to force me to like them too. (Spoiler alert, I don’t.) He loves John Wick and Lord of the Rings. He has very strong opinions, and will gladly explain why he has those opinions. And when he meets you, he will be determined to impress you with his handshake.

I like to say that Matthias is the person I had a crush on, but Ty is the person I fell in love with. Ty is one of the sweetest, most gentle, caring people I have ever met. I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with him. I'm so excited for that day, and so grateful for our friends and family who will be there to share it with us.

-Emma