James and Esthers love story began at Thrive, a young adult Christian group in Gig Harbor. At the time, James was living in Hoquiam, WA, a small town two hours away. Despite the distance, James was searching for a community that shared his faith, and Thrive was the closest group he could find. It was there that James first saw Esther.

Esther was on stage that evening, helping to lead worship. James was immediately captivated by her presence, not just by her beauty but by the way she worshipped. Later that night, Esther introduced herself to James, alongside a friend. James found himself instantly drawn to her bubbly personality and her ability to engage effortlessly with everyone around her. From that moment, a friendship began to blossom.

At the time, Esther had her heart set on someone else, and James, though already developing feelings for her, found himself in the role of a supportive friend. He offered her relationship advice whenever asked trying to be as unbiased as possible. Despite the unspoken emotions, their friendship continued to grow as their conversations deepened.

In April 2023, Esther was invited to join James at his older sister Ashton’s wedding in California—a bold move considering they weren’t even dating yet. During this trip, Esther met James’ entire family and saw him in his element. It was here, surrounded by the warmth of his family and the beauty of the occasion, that Esther began to see James in a new light. She admired his witty humor, his gentle spirit, and most of all, the way his love for Christ shone through in everything he did.

About a week into the trip Esther opened up to James, confessing that she, too, had started to develop feelings for him. It was a moment of mutual realization, the beginning of something truly special. That night. James officially asked Esther to be his girlfriend, and they celebrated with Esther attempting to teach James to dance.

Their relationship deepened over the following months, and by August 2024, after a little over a year of dating, James knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Esther. He proposed to her at her grandparents lake house, a place filled with cherished memories. Esther said yes, and together they began planning their future.

From the very start, James and Esther knew their relationship was meant to lead to marriage. Their journey has been one of individual growth and shared faith, each drawing closer to God and to each other. As they look forward to their wedding day, they are excited to continue building a life together, grounded in love, laughter, and their shared commitment to Christ.

This is the beginning of their forever.