October 3, 2022. The day I met Jimmy.


I had moved back to the Raleigh area after graduating from App State. I moved in with Annelise (my sister), who had been attending Waypoint Church. They seemed to value ministries that I was interested in, so I visited and quickly got connected with community. I met Jimmy when I visited the Young Pros community group for the first time.


He commented that all my rings were sick and introduced me to his enthusiastic personality. We slowly became friends and got to know each other through various group hang outs, but it wasnt until we bonded over a mutual love of tea and literature (specifically, my introducing him to Jane Austen) that a deeper connection started developing (at least for my part).


We hung out for the first time one-on-one at Cha House Raleigh (one of my favorite tea shops), and its here that he told me he had feelings for me, and here that I responded with I have been praying that we would just be friends. The expression of his feelings caught me off guard and I was in a place where the idea of a relationship caused a lot of anxiety and fear. He responded graciously, affirmed that he wanted to remain friends regardless, and we moved on.


Then, a month and a half of drinking tea, exploring music, watching movies, discussing philosophies, and sharing hopes for the future went by. Somewhere along the way I realized how deeply I cared for him. I had started falling in love with his energy for life and laughter, his understanding of art and music, his deep love for people and God, but was going to delay sharing that realization for as long as possible. And God said no, you will share it now.


Jimmy asked me to tag along for a photo shoot in Greensboro one day, I agreed, and we had planned to introduce him to one of my favorite movies, Its a Wonderful Life, that evening when we got back. During the movie, I internally decided I would tell Jimmy how I felt if we ended up holding hands... and—it’s still unclear how—but somehow we did. So, I made the leap to share my feelings and my fears, he responded positively and patiently, told me we could take as long as we needed.


It took three days.


Our mutual friend Sophie was able to talk some sense into me and reassure some of my fears despite not knowing we were even talking about my relationship with Jimmy. And after that conversation I told Jimmy, “I’ve realized weve basically already been dating, so we should just call it that.” He did not object.


One year later, he planned the most elaborate and meaningful day of reminiscing, taking me to some of our favorite spots—Tin Roof Teas, Readers Corner book shop—and proposing at the same spot we had that first unofficial date. I couldnt think of a better way to celebrate the development of our relationship, and I cant wait to continue journeying through life together.


Since day one Ive been excited simply that Jimmy exists in the world, and now I am absolutely stoked that I get to exist near him in the proximity that I do. I love you, my dear <3

An orange jacket, two fistfuls of rings, and a man in love.


In October of 2022, I was happy. I had just started college, I was feeling comfortable in my friendships at church, and for the first time in my life I was content being single. Then Kara came along.


On October 3rd, I sat across the table from those perfectly curled bangs and knew that something was changing. I dont remember exactly what went through my mind the first time I met Kara (she was obviously very pretty, have you seen her??) but I do know that it was immediately apparent to me that this woman was important. It didnt take long before I was plotting for any and every excuse to send her a text or invite her to lunch with friends.


About six months later, after a strategically planned tea party where Kara was introduced to a group of my best friends, she and I went out to Raleigh to get some tea of our own. Every single person in my life knew that I was going on a date with the cutest girl in the pew - except the girl herself. Needless to say, Kara and I had an amazing time of jokes and connection, but I took the walk of shame through my packed-out living room afterwards to announce Id been friend zoned.


Despite my romantic inclinations being gently and caringly placed aside by her beautifully silver-donned hands, Kara and I continued a vibrant and deeply connective friendship. I spent many nights in her living room, watching Downton Abbey or Jane Austen films, and my Spotify was suddenly filled with the vibrant Pop-Punk of Karas childhood. We delighted in sharing our artistic inclinations with each other; sending each other music, and gifting one another different Mary Oliver volumes. Our bond quickly became one of two driven creatives, dedicated to God and inspired by one anothers lives. Although I continued to wrestle with God on how to handle my feelings for Kara well, I genuinely wanted nothing more than what we were already building: a dear friendship. I eventually even resigned myself to let go of my subterranean romantic desires for Kara and engage fully in our friendship without hopes of valentinean additions. Apparently, she had made no such dedication.


After an exciting outing to Greensboro full of boba tea and fashion photography, Kara and I made our way to my house with regrettable Taco Bell in our stomachs and Its a Wonderful Life on our horizon. We spent an eventful and artistic day together, and after an intimate screening of a sentimental film, Kara said we needed to talk.


Naturally, I froze.


Kara expressed in that moment that she had been carrying around some romantic feelings for me, but also had a lot of baggage around relationships, and wasnt sure what do to about it. She said that she liked me, but wasnt quite ready to do anything about that yet. Seeking the Holy Spirit and the security of her heart, I reassured Kara that I wasnt expecting anything more from her than what we already had built, and that this confession didnt lock her into any decisions.


That lasted about 3 days.


During a totally platonic tea picnic at the Art Museum by ourselves, it became apparent to both Kara and I that we needed to do something. To me, it felt like a decision had to be made: we either moved towards a relationship, or had to take a step back from our current emotional intimacy. After a confusing arm-in-arm walk back to our cars, Kara went off to coffee with our friend Sophie, and I went to make dinner before Bible study.


Upon arriving to Community Group that night, I got a text from Kara saying Im on my way, can we talk after? I dont remember a single word from Bible Study that night. The entire night was filled with anxiety on whether Kara and I were about to have the best or worst conversation I could imagine. After study ended, we made our way to my car, and Kara very slowly began explaining the process of her feelings for me. Finally, after being quite unclear for a full five minutes, Kara finally confessed that Weve basically been dating already, and we should probably just call it that. Waves of nerves finally broke and washed away, as Kara and I embraced and started a long conversation about what it meant to love each other well.


It was apparent to me embarrassingly early on that I wanted to marry Kara. The conversation didnt start too early, but when it did start, it quickly became serious. Kara and I just make sense with each other: our creative inclinations serve as mutual inspiration, our lives of collected interests fit well into the gaps in each others knowledge, and our long-collected emotional intelligences have served wonders in learning how to care for each others hearts. We started seriously discussing marriage in August or September of 2023, but it wasnt until God dropped a future apartment in our laps that the timeline became clear. It seemed obvious that the Lord was setting us up for October 2024, so October 2024 is where we aimed.


I have spent a year and a half next to the most driven, intentional, aware, and beautiful woman I have ever met. Ive made mistakes, and so has she. Weve hurt each other, and weve had to repair. There have been plenty of misunderstandings and miscommunications on the journey to get here, but I can honestly say that I never once doubted my decision to start this journey with her, and have no doubts that we will live a life together of partnership, inspiration, and reverence for Jesus.


Its never me vs. you, my love. Its always us vs. the problem. Im excited that you exist. Lets get married :)