If you've ever seen the plot of the movie "Shrek", our story is essentially the same thing, story over.

Kidding, I did not live in a swamp.

The year was 2023, and Emily and I were enrolled in classes at Jacksonville State University. Emily was in the final two semesters of her nursing degree, while I was a sophomore beginning the grunt work of a Computer Science degree (I'm sure you typically put nurses with computer scientists when you think of couple pairings).

Emily was in a leadership role at the Engage College ministry at JSU which I also attended. She was nearing her final semester as an Engage small-group leader when one of her very good friends, Julia, introduced her to Emma, one of my friends. The three hit it off and naturally over time, the discussion turned to their dating lives, in which the other two girls were both in relationships. Emma being the excellent wing-woman she was, brought up the prospect of a friend she had who she thought Emily might be interested in.

I walked into Engage one night, tired from a long Monday of work and many aggravating circumstances expecting to meet Emma and Jay. As it turns out, I walked in and Jay was running late but Emma was there, talking to no other than Emily. Now I would love to say that during our first interaction, the room split apart and there was a great ambience of magic in the air but that would be a lie. I walked in and was greeted by a curly-headed girl who said: "Hey Josh, I'm Emily, I like your hair." I was taken aback because I had never been complimented on my hair with such passion.

After that, I would go to Emily's house for a large group game night where she would ignore every word I said that night (she will deny this). Though we had several other encounters such as this, eating dinner with friends, watching the scream movies, and playing pickleball our first romantic interaction didn't happen until much later.

I had been trying to get Emily and myself to have a second alone so I could ask for her number, but little did I know she already had it from Emma. Towards the end of my sophomore year, I received a text from her asking me on a walk, however, I had just gone home for the weekend. So I did what any logical man would, I didn't tell her and drove back to Jacksonville for the walk. There we discussed many things and began to see her personality revealed.

It wasn't ever Emily's beauty alone that captivated me, rather it was her heart and her genuine kindness that made me fall in love with her. Our walk on the Ladiga Trail would be the site where I would later propose to her.

After that, we would go on to take a trip to Auburn with our friends where she would get the first indication I had feelings for her when she asked: "If I threw up on you, would you still like me?" Then the next day would be the last Engage of the semester, I would ask the Lord for a sign I was supposed to pursue a relationship with Emily. In turn, my grandmother's car would blow up in the Chick-fil-A parking lot and I thought, close enough. I would ask her to watch a movie afterward and she would completely reject me to go hang out with Danica and Nicole. However, I decided not to give up and asked if she would want to get coffee the next day to which she accepted. That one coffee date turned into 3, then a trip to Cheaha, and then eventually to us beginning our relationship, to her becoming my future wife.

Myself and Emily are so excited as we close in on the day we both say "I do", and are overwhelmed by the love shown to us by all those closest! The thing you should know above all else is most important to us, is that through our wedding and our marriage Christ is glorified. Without His love, we would not be where we are today or be able to love one another in any meaningful way. Just as Christ models a beautiful marriage with His bride, the church, we hope to have one that reflects His character, love, and glory. We cannot wait to celebrate with you all, here's to the future Mr. and Mrs. Whaley!

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