"You ain't feeling it or something?"

That was the decision Treston chose to introduce himself with. Trying to connect and make a first impression while standing adjacent to me, we watched fellow students of our second year at our ministry school, being touched by God. And myself, not at all interested in how he chose to approach me, responded with "I'll experience God that way when He wants me too". Thus, killing the attempted connection.

Later, our dear friend Mark Hamilton (see groomsmen), a stranger to me at the time, reached out via Messenger app. His intro?

"Hey Hannah! Are you single?? And are you wanting to date at some point ?? Not me lol but I'm hearing someone maaay be interested, who knows lol"

Sounds like a sad wingman at bar, right? (Sorry, not sorry, Mark). And you would think that the interested homeboy would have sent him my way. Later, after responding pretty directly with the lack of interest, I figured out Mark's course of action was without Treston's knowledge. And I of course found out Mark's anonymous friend through his Facebook's home page pretty easily: they were roommates and took a first school day picture. And, "oh hey, isn't that the guy in the coffeeshop lobby, that asked me if I was feeling it?"

I remained uninterested.

However, I love people and see everyone as my friend, so I still talked to this guy who was in my group for school that current year and we were assigned the same church services because of that. During one of the services, I stopped him as he walked past inquiring about an update in his life. When talking about a serious subject, another person listening tried to make light of it with a joke, to which Treston calmly responded with:

"bro, you play too much" before turning on his heels and walking off without another word.

And I watched him go. Dang, that was blunt... I LOVE that.

If I'm being completely transparent, growing up in church, there have been a handful of moments where I've seen men remain quiet in moments I wish they would've have said something or corrected a behavior that might have been inappropriate (nothing at all super serious) but sometimes it felt like silence was kept to maintain "peace", when it should have bluntly been talked about. This is an easy on-ramp for me to get on my passion TED talk for the power of true masculinity and femininity how they're both needed, but I'll refrain :).

Fast forward a few weeks, I have now been watching from afar how this blunt man treats his leaders, friends, women, people serving him, etc. And during a Sunday service, I received a prophetic word (which is hearing encouraging/edifying thoughts from God about a person and sharing it with them) to give to Treston about being a safe man and someone who men and women both feel so safe with and share their vulnerable stories with him. (I believe he still has it on his phone because he recorded it). Without missing a beat or evening giving me a simple "wow, love the word", he looked at me and asked,

"do you want to get a coffee?"

At this point he already had my attention and curiosity, so I immediately said yes. We got coffee, shared life stories, and talked for hours before a worship night. On the drive back to my house (we drove separately), I began crying because so much of what he shared, unbeknownst to him, were things I had been praying for for 5+ years. I recorded a video on an app named Marco Polo to my mom, saying I think I might of met the one. Obviously, keeping that to myself for the time being and multiple other prayers for confirmation.

The following week, I was doing assisted pull ups at my gym (because normal pull ups are stupid and I can't do them), and I receive the sweetest text from him, inviting me to an "all inclusive deal" to dine with him at a local pizza place. I accepted.

I learned on that beloved second date that one of his core values was also "Open and Honest Communication" which has proven SOOOOO NECESSARY in the entirety of our relationship.

Upon him returning me back home, he shared his intentions in wanting to seriously pursue me, to which I said I'd pray about it. Though two days later, he followed up at school, inviting me to another coffee date, I accepted again. And we officially started dating.

Since then, there has been many up and downs, because we are both human, and growing. And I learned that Hallmark is a freaking liar and romantic movies are the Instagram version of relationships (showing the highlight reel, putting on fake filter, etc). They lied how hard and not perfect a relationship is, BUT they also didn't come close to how beautiful of a feeling it is when you've shared your weaknesses or revealed your worst parts, and yet the other person makes space, holds you, and speaks truth back in. Nicholas Sparks could never.

April 30, 2023, I was to "help Treston film a thank you video", to which he proposed in a spot around Whiskeytown lake we frequented a lot at the start of our relationship. Mountains in the background, feeling very much out of my body, but also not entirely surprised (because I know my man, and he had some telltale signs beforehand), I said yes to forever with the "you ain't feeling it or something" guy.

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