Emma and I first met in 2022 when we worked Fuge Camps together at North Greenville University. Upon our introduction there was an immediate romantic attraction. Okay, not really. I stared at her leg tattoo like a weirdo, but luckily she did not completely write me off.

Over the course of the summer we became great friends through doing ministry together. Emma was the Emcee, and I was her sidekick, so we spent a lot of time together. I got to see her work hard, lead well, love fully, and serve God faithfully in good and bad circumstances.

Nearing the end of the summer I began to picture Emma as more than just my camp best friend, so on the last day of the summer I asked her to be my date to my sister’s wedding a month later.

Our memories of how this went down are comedically different. I remember asking timidly because I was nervous, but Emma claims I said, “My sister’s getting married in August, and I need a date. I’ll send you the details.” Her version makes me sound a lot cooler, so let’s go with it.

Leading up to the wedding, Emma and I texted every day and began having lengthy FaceTime calls. During this I was also praying for clarity and guidance about asking her to be my girlfriend. As we got to know each other better, God gave me more and more peace about her.

The night before the wedding we had a long conversation where I got to ask her to be my girlfriend. We talked about our expectations, hopes, worries, and how we would make dating work from different states. I was very unaware of what would happen, but God was and is faithful through all of it.

After having a really sweet time together at the wedding, Emma went back to Charlotte, while I remained in Knoxville, and we started doing long distance as best we could. For us that involved frequent texting, daily FaceTimes, and coveted trips to visit one another. It was challenging, but it grew us and taught us a lot.

On my first trip to visit Emma we got to go on our first official date! I insisted on buying her dinner from anywhere she wanted (she picked Chickfila) and then we went to a drive-in movie because she knew that I love movies and quality time. I got the courage to put my arm around her and we enjoyed the movie, chicken, and the sweet relationship we had begun. With my arm wrapped around her, I was secretly thinking about how this girl would become my wife.

Over the course of the next year we had many more sweet dates and trips to see one another. We made big memories attending Tennessee’s best football game ever and going to parties and weddings as a couple, but we also made small memories like playing cards with her mom and getting Chili’s “3 for me” any chance we got. Regardless of if it was a planned activity or something seemingly mundane, I was always glad to be with my Emma.

I was pretty much sold on Emma after the first date, but in December of 2022 I knew for certain she would be my wife. To celebrate my birthday, she had made an appreciation video with clips from my closest friends and family and took me out to eat. I teared up watching the video as I had always told the Lord I would know my wife when I had found someone who made me feel really special on my birthday. Emma has always loved me above and beyond what I could expect on my birthday.

In the summer of 2023, we worked FUGE camps at separate locations, but midnight FaceTime calls and a surprise mid-summer visit from my sweetheart got us through. Despite being sleep deprived and in different time zones during camp, Emma always prioritized our relationship and talking with me.

Post camp, Emma and I both had plans regarding school, work, where each of us would live, and when we could eventually get married. It was going to be at least another year and half of long distance, which meant more FaceTimes and gas fill ups. It is said that when we make plans we can hear the Lord laugh, and Emma and I experienced this firsthand as the Lord took all of our plans and totally swiped them away so we had a blank slate.

With this new openness, God faithfully revealed new directions to go which ultimately led to us living in the same city, attending the same church, and being available to make life plans together. We spent the fall learning what it is like to go on dates more than twice a month and got closer with each one.

In December of 2023 I took Emma to a scenic view and asked her to marry me. We both knew it was coming because of the ring shopping, conversations, and the fact that I told her she would probably want to look especially pretty for our next date, but that did not decrease the joy and excitement we felt and still feel about getting married. Emma is my best friend, my closest relationship, and my lifelong ministry partner. She is loving, kind, patient, and beautiful. I am so eager to call her my wife, and we cannot wait to celebrate that day with our friends and family. Praise God for His faithfulness and kindness!