our first picture taken together (on the 2nd date)

I (Steven) remember the first moment I saw Jenn. On July 25th 2024, I was exiting a bus after arriving at Crooked Creek Ranch camp when I was greeted by a beautiful girl who immediately caught my attention. Jenn was working that week as a head leader, and I was among the adult volunteer leaders bringing high school students for what we promised them would be the best week of their lives at camp – turns out it would be mine too!

Later in the week, I heard Jenn give a morning devotional for all the adult leaders and I was stunned – a beautiful girl who loves Jesus, is an excellent public speaker and she quotes from C.S. Lewis’ Great Divorce in her devotionals? – I’m in. Over the next couple days, I made it a point to find her to strike up conversations to see what else I could find out about this girl. Those two brief conversations went well, but I wasn’t convinced there was any interest until the morning of the final day.

On the last morning, Jenn playfully tapped me on the shoulder as she passed behind me, and then she waved at me once I finally realized who had done it (Jenn denies this happened by the way!). That single tap gave me the confidence to ask for her number just two hours before leaving camp. On Aug 5th, nearly a week later, I woke up at 4:30am and drove two hours to get coffee with Jenn near the camp (she was still working there for a few more days). We went on to have one more date before I drove Jenn to the airport on Aug 10th to go back to her home in Austin, TX – despite the nearly 1,000 miles distance, we agreed to pursue the long-distance relationship.

Since then, Jenn has turned into my best friend, the love of my life and an expert at driving me just a little crazy. The Lord could not have been kinder than when he brought her into my life.

❤️❤️❤️

I (Jenn) have no memory of the first moment I saw Steven. On July 25th 2024, I greeted hundreds of students and leaders as they arrived at Crooked Creek Ranch. Secretly, I had been scanning for my future husband — little did I know he had just passed me by!

One morning, a guy named Steven came up to me after I gave a devotional on John Ch. 1. I didn’t think much of it at the time, but we would later have conversations throughout the week in which I learned about his love for theology and his pursuit of a Masters in The Old Testament. I told him if he ever had an interest in working for Young Life, he could give me a call.

I suppose I may (or may not have) tapped him on the shoulder that very last day. ;) That afternoon, Steven walked toward me in the center of camp, and told me all about his “newfound interest” in potentially working for Young Life. He asked for my number and later texted me to see if I’d like to grab coffee with him.

The morning of our first date, I woke up at 6:30am and asked God, “Is this my first date with my future husband?” When we entered the coffee shop, Steven immediately ordered a kid-temperature hot chocolate (Surely not, Lord!) But as he sat across from me, I felt a sense of ease that I do not typically feel on first dates. It was a peace that surpasses understanding. Steven was one of the easiest people I had ever talked to, and we quickly fell into an easy rhythm chatting about books, family, ministry, and dreams for the future.

Since then, Steven has become the greatest gift God has ever given me. God knew exactly what I needed, and He was answering my prayers right under my nose! Steven is true, noble, admirable, excellent (Phil. 4:8). He loves and pursues me the way Jesus does. The Lord has been so kind to provide Steven as my partner in life and ministry. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life driving him just a little crazy!