Our story is set in a tiny little Bible College in Portland, Oregon where we fatefully met and fell in love. Our love journey, however, is full of many ups and downs and fun plot twists, so buckle up and hang tight!

Caleb’s first memory of Joelle was one evening in the fall after playing volleyball when she commented on how he was such a wonderful teacher and coach, especially to her, who was a simple beginner in the sport. After that moment he couldn’t stop thinking about her. That Spring, Joelle was shocked when Caleb started making advancements and showing more than friendly affection to her. She was bewildered to discover that such an amazing, God-fearing, and well-respected man had feelings for her. After timidly refusing a coffee date, Joelle told Caleb that she wanted to get to know him in groups of people instead of one-on-one dates. As the school year came to an end, they were determined to keep getting to know each other and decided to call once a week over the Summer. They never had a dull moment in talking to each other and began to realize just how much they liked each other, and how much they had in common and wanted in life. At the end of that Summer, however, after much prayer and contemplation, Joelle told Caleb that she was not yet ready to start dating and decided that they should continue the relationship as friends. Fatefully, they both ended up working together on their school’s chapel team and continued as very good and close friends. Within the first couple months of being ‘just friends’ Joelle was having second thoughts on her decision, especially since she felt like she was falling more in more in love with Caleb instead of getting over him. She remained faithful to her decision, as did Caleb, even though they unknowingly were both facing the horrible turmoil of liking each other but not acting on it. They continued in this way for about nine months, until one night when Joelle was home complaining about her feelings to her Mom, her mother asked her, “What’s the worst that could happen if you just see if he still feels the same way about you?” Joelle was shocked that she said this but knew deep down that this was what she was supposed to do all along.

And so, one evening she decided to ask Caleb if they could talk. Caleb was beside himself with worry, as he thought that Joelle was confronting a silly comment he had made at a get-together the day before. He was absolutely shocked when she began to confess her feelings and ask if he still shared the same ones. After confessing that he had been, and still was absolutely in-love with her, they began the exciting journey of intentionally pursuing each other. Finally, in September of 2023 Caleb asked Joelle to be his girlfriend, and they began the wonderful journey of falling more and more in love with each other.

They both share a passion for loving and serving God’s people and hope to continue to do that together as they enter into marriage together.