I feel like my story and Joel's are similar yet different. Joel's story is like a pleasant hill; you get to admire the view as you progress up the hill, looking at God's beauty. Mine is a problematic staircase you wish would end so you can get to the top to enjoy the view. I first met Joel at a Christian matchmaking/speed-dating event. He was my last date, and I remember being exhausted after meeting with four other men and losing my voice. What stood out to me was that he had a niece and nephew the same age as mine; he lived in Spokane for some time, and family was essential to him. I was excited about the prospects and hoped he would be excited, too, and when we learned it was a match, he jumped right on it and texted me to set up a date. On the day of the coffee date, I felt excited but also very nervous. He greeted me with his lovely smile, and we talked about religion, family, and life. I spilled my drink, and he just smiled at me. We matched on many values, but I began to doubt and worry. Our next date was dinner, where we had great conversation and played games at an arcade. I knew he liked me because he suggested we try a Korean K-pop zombie game. On this date, I told him that I had matched with another person and was going to try and explore that relationship as well as ours, and his response was, "Okay, that is fine. I am interested and will be thrilled to spend more time with you, but I understand your need to explore other options. " This response was my first look into Joel: a secure, steadfast, considerate man. On our next date, we went for a walk; I tripped, fell, and confessed some fears to him. Joel responded with compassion, kindness, and grace. That made me start to fall for him, literally and figuratively. At the end of that date, he surprised me with flowers, to which I was elated. After each consecutive date, I became more comfortable with Joel and wanted to be closer to him. We talked about deep and heavy subjects, and he was compassionate and considerate of all my feelings. There was panic for me after every step of our relationship, from the first kiss, identifying boyfriend and girlfriend, and saying I love you. I could confess my fears; Joel supported and comforted me, providing me with gentle compassion and steadfast love. Joel has proven to be a strong spiritual leader, a compassionate listener, and willing to consider my opinions and thoughts. Joel is compassionate and loves his family, me, and God above all else, and I cannot wait to marry this wonderful Man!

I began dating at 24, having always believed before then that God's gift of a good wife would just come along without any effort on my part. I soon discovered that if I wanted a chance at any relationship, I would have to buckle down and seriously work hard for it! That realization was followed by eight years of striving, angry frustration, fervent prayer, loneliness, despair, the seasons when I felt certain God wanted me to be single forever and friends didn't care if I was... That prolonged suffering, along with the great help of friends and mentors (even when I didn't believe in them) produced in me a harvest of closeness to God I could never otherwise have had. It was an incredible blessing to me to find that Jenny was drawn to the patience, endurance, and steadfastness that God had Instilled in me over the years.

I was grasping at every straw, any possibility to meet someone, when I went to "Find Your Squeeze" and met Jenny. Leaving the event, to be honest, I didn't feel particularly hopeful.

But as Jenny and I continued to both put effort into setting up and keeping dates, she opened up to me with amazing vulnerability, and soon I was able to do the same.

I did feel sure about Jenny some time before she felt quite so sure about me. But with the right nudges, she allowed me to keep moving us forward. On December 3rd, 2023, I asked Jenny to marry me, and she said yes! I am overjoyed and amazed to be Blessed by God with such a beautiful, kind, warm, welcoming woman. We never stop thanking Him for Bringing us together!