Gabriel & Crystal

December 7, 2024 • Hot Springs, AR

Gabriel & Crystal

December 7, 2024 • Hot Springs, AR
Gallery Photo 1
Gallery Photo 2

Spring 2023


At the Depot... where it all started....


It was my senior year of college, and I had been going to the Depot for a sweet cup of coffee since my Freshman year. Gabriel began working at the coffee shop starting the summer of 2022. Neither one of us really noticed each other until the end of February 2023 I'd say. Him and Connor England would CUT UP on the couch, get in fights with Albert, and start controversial conversations with Johnny... well... mostly Connor.


One thing about me, is that I love having conversations happen around me while I am getting my work done, so I naturally gravitated toward the couches, where they they were, and listened as I did my homework,,, plus I enjoyed listening to the noteworthy conversations and endless banter. It was pretty comical. Soon, I found myself gravitating toward the couches when Gabriel played his guitar during his shifts too. I enjoyed listening to him play as I did my homework:) Nothing like a little classical music while studying...


April 2023


As time went on, I began to notice Gabriel a little and grew interested. I would say the same for him toward me, but he wasn't ready to date anyone yet:)


May 2023


During this month, I would sit at the couches a lot more:) Meanwhile, every time I came, Gabriel started talking to me because he thought he was annoying me with his guitar playing. I wasn't mad about it! He talked about his niece and nephew and showed me pictures of them. We bonded over music and showed each other our favorite bands, composers, music styles, instruments, you name it! I also might have gotten him to play My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion multiple times.


The middle of May came and we were at a small group gathering at the depot. I was in the front playing Secret Hitler while him and another guy were messing around in the back on the instruments. I asked my sweet friend, Alyssa, "You think he'll play... My Heart Will go on?" She said, "Go ask!" So I did:) and he responded with, "Only if you sing with me. " After that, everyone left and it was just me, him, and Kaitlin Terry! We all stayed singing worship songs until midnight... But it was that night when I realized that I think I like this guy.


Later that month... at the depot... I talked to him about a gift I was wanting to get my brother for his birthday. It was music related so I was wanting to get his advice on it.

As soon I got home from a wedding that I had filmed in St. Louis, I found all the stuff that I had gotten for my brother at the door. I unpackaged everything, stacked it neatly, and snapped a picture to send to Gabriel to let him know that everything came in and to thank him for helping me... I knew what I was doing:) But at the same time, I did NOT expect much other than a "no problem!"

May 28, 2023

As soon I got home from a wedding that I had filmed in St. Louis, I found all the stuff that I had gotten for my brother at the door. I unpackaged everything, stacked it neatly, and snapped a picture to send to Gabriel to let him know that everything came in and to thank him for helping me... I knew what I was doing:) But at the same time, I did NOT expect much other than a "no problem!"
Status update: He texted me first the next day!!

May 29, 2023

Status update: He texted me first the next day!!
Anddddd we messaged back and forth for a while. He sent me some sweet pics from Pittsburg.

June 04, 2023

Anddddd we messaged back and forth for a while. He sent me some sweet pics from Pittsburg.
Here is another!

June 04, 2023

Here is another!
And another!:) He was getting pretty good at taking photos! His teacher must have been pretty good!

June 10, 2023

And another!:) He was getting pretty good at taking photos! His teacher must have been pretty good!
On this day, I had surgery on my foot so I was bed bound for the next 6 weeks!

June 13, 2023

On this day, I had surgery on my foot so I was bed bound for the next 6 weeks!
At this point, Gabriel and I had been messaging each other for a whole month now. We had called and talked on the phone at least once a week too! 

Praise God for Gabriel!!! He so graciously told me all about his time in Pittsburg since I didn't have anything better to do except watch Shrek on repeat.

June 28, 2023

At this point, Gabriel and I had been messaging each other for a whole month now. We had called and talked on the phone at least once a week too! Praise God for Gabriel!!! He so graciously told me all about his time in Pittsburg since I didn't have anything better to do except watch Shrek on repeat.
Eight weeks later, Gabriel gets back from Pittsburg on July 24th! The next day, I invite him to cook dinner with me and one of my best friends, Genesis! I like to think I helped give him the confidence to ask me to hang out! AND HE DID! So we went to go play disc golf (which is his favorite), we went to eat at Panda, and then went to the depot and had fun singing and playing all the instruments!

July 30, 2023

Eight weeks later, Gabriel gets back from Pittsburg on July 24th! The next day, I invite him to cook dinner with me and one of my best friends, Genesis! I like to think I helped give him the confidence to ask me to hang out! AND HE DID! So we went to go play disc golf (which is his favorite), we went to eat at Panda, and then went to the depot and had fun singing and playing all the instruments!
Our first date! It was very spontaneous. We went to an event in Bossier, and then a prayer garden, and then we went to sonic to get red bull slushes, and THEN we watched barrel racing at the horse track in Benton. On the way back to Ruston, we stopped at the big cross in Haughton and watched funny videos at the foot.

If you want a good story, ask Chase Sanders about how he found out we were going on this date together...! You'll get a good laugh!

August 04, 2023

Our first date! It was very spontaneous. We went to an event in Bossier, and then a prayer garden, and then we went to sonic to get red bull slushes, and THEN we watched barrel racing at the horse track in Benton. On the way back to Ruston, we stopped at the big cross in Haughton and watched funny videos at the foot. If you want a good story, ask Chase Sanders about how he found out we were going on this date together...! You'll get a good laugh!
Took this sweet silhouette photo of Gabriel when we went on a stargazing date!

August 09, 2023

Took this sweet silhouette photo of Gabriel when we went on a stargazing date!
Kari Jobe, Cody Carnes, Sean Curran and Leeland concert!

August 10, 2023

Kari Jobe, Cody Carnes, Sean Curran and Leeland concert!
The night Gabriel asked me to be his girlfriend!!

August 13, 2023

The night Gabriel asked me to be his girlfriend!!
The day he met my family... my whole family! We went to my cousin's wedding and lol just ask him about our interactions with my Uncle Johnny!

September 23, 2023

The day he met my family... my whole family! We went to my cousin's wedding and lol just ask him about our interactions with my Uncle Johnny!
Je ne suis pas étudiant!

November 18, 2023

Je ne suis pas étudiant!
A few people from our college ministry went on a mission trip to Strasbourg, France! It was a sweet time to practice some French and share the gospel with some of the people there!

November 22, 2023

A few people from our college ministry went on a mission trip to Strasbourg, France! It was a sweet time to practice some French and share the gospel with some of the people there!
Gabriel and I in Strasbourg, France!

November 23, 2023

Gabriel and I in Strasbourg, France!
This is the Cathedral in Place Kleber! It is absolutely beautiful!

November 23, 2023

This is the Cathedral in Place Kleber! It is absolutely beautiful!
Happy New Year!

December 31, 2023

Happy New Year!
Gabriel after he ran the Louisiana marathon... I cheered him on!

January 14, 2024

Gabriel after he ran the Louisiana marathon... I cheered him on!
My all-time favorite photo of Gabriel and I! This was during the few days that roads and schools closed down because of the snow!

January 17, 2024

My all-time favorite photo of Gabriel and I! This was during the few days that roads and schools closed down because of the snow!
Our 6 month!! We spent it playing disc golf and eating pizza at a place in Monroe!

February 14, 2024

Our 6 month!! We spent it playing disc golf and eating pizza at a place in Monroe!
Ski trip with First College! We were snowboarding buddies!

March 05, 2024

Ski trip with First College! We were snowboarding buddies!
Spent...

March 06, 2024

Spent...
Happy Easter! My family came to Ruston to go to church with Gabriel and I! Not only was it super sweet to have my family there, but Gabriel and I both got to worship the Lord together:) Gabriel on guitar and me on piano!

March 31, 2024

Happy Easter! My family came to Ruston to go to church with Gabriel and I! Not only was it super sweet to have my family there, but Gabriel and I both got to worship the Lord together:) Gabriel on guitar and me on piano!
Last Awaken/Senior Awaken and Gabriel's family came! Awaken is college service Wednesday nights at First Baptist!

May 15, 2024

Last Awaken/Senior Awaken and Gabriel's family came! Awaken is college service Wednesday nights at First Baptist!
Il n'est pas étudiant!!

May 25, 2024

Il n'est pas étudiant!!
Road trip with my bestie sister Anna!!

June 28, 2024

Road trip with my bestie sister Anna!!
Just 6 hours before Mr. Gabriel proposes!

August 13, 2024

Just 6 hours before Mr. Gabriel proposes!
We are ENGAGEDD!

August 13, 2024

We are ENGAGEDD!
I CANNOT WAIT TO MARRY THIS MAN!! The Lord works so evidently through him. I am so proud and excited to get to call him my husband one day! I just love how God works in him through daily surrender whether through the great times or hard.

September 08, 2024

I CANNOT WAIT TO MARRY THIS MAN!! The Lord works so evidently through him. I am so proud and excited to get to call him my husband one day! I just love how God works in him through daily surrender whether through the great times or hard.