HOW WE MET

In the fall of 2022, Kiley and I both signed up for a discipleship program through Pine Cove called The Forge. On the second day of the program, I remember waking up an hour earlier than our scheduled time to go outside and read my Bible. I thought I’d be the first one out there, but to my surprise, Kiley had already beaten me to it. If I had to pinpoint my first true impression of her, it would be seeing her sitting outside at 7 a.m., reading her Bible and journaling while the rest of us were still asleep.

As the year went on, Kiley and I became really strong friends. Our bond was built on shared interests—sports, worship music, both of us being an aunt and uncle, potty humor—and, most importantly, our mutual love for the Lord. As we spent more time together, I began to understand her heart for God in a deeper and more authentic way. During this time, I also started developing strong feelings for her.

However, due to the nature of the program, we weren’t allowed to date during the 9 months we were together, so once my feelings for Kiley began to grow, I had to keep them to myself—for six months.

OUR FIRST DATE

As the end of our time at the Forge approached I decided I would ask her out on a date. I mustered up the courage, took her to a dock by a lake on the property (so original, I know) and proceeded to struggle through asking her on a date over a much too long conversation. At the end of our conversation, she expressed how honored she felt and how much she appreciated me respecting her and asking her out. However, she admitted that she didn’t know what her answer was yet.

I was taken aback, and needed some time to process, so I stepped away to talk it over with my friends while she did the same. That evening, she sent me a text saying, “Can we talk in the morning?” We did, and the next day she told me that she’d like to go on a date, though she also shared some fears she had.

Four days later, I took her on a date to Stumpy’s in Granbury, Texas, and afterward, we walked by the lake. I remember feeling a deep sense of peace that night, knowing I was pursuing someone who truly cared about me—someone who knew me, even if she didn’t “like” me yet.

Kiley quickly agreed to a second date, and by the end of the summer in 2024, we were officially boyfriend and girlfriend.

PROPOSAL

I proposed to Kiley on our one-year anniversary, but honestly, I knew she was the one I wanted to marry long before that. About six months into our relationship, we both confessed our love for each other—but we also walked through a challenging season that tested us in unexpected ways. It was during this time that I truly realized just how strong my love for her was and how I never wanted to lose her. For Kiley, it was when she discovered that I was someone she could fully trust and that I would always desire to imperfectly but fully pursue her.

Despite the tough season, we grew stronger together, and by the time we came through it, we both felt confident and certain that the Lord had called us to marry each other. The proposal itself wasn’t a complete surprise to Kiley—but the timing definitely was. She knew I had a ring and that I was planning to ask her, but she had no idea when. On July 19th, 2024, I convinced her that we were simply celebrating our one-year anniversary, and that the proposal would have to wait. So, we took a walk through a beautiful garden in Dallas, and as we neared the spot where I’d planned to propose, I could see her anticipation build. She was overjoyed, a little relieved, and, I’ll admit, a bit impressed at how I’d managed to keep it a secret. Her best friends were there to witness the moment and capture it in photos, and afterward, we celebrated with friends and family. It truly was a magical day. Since then, we've been counting down the days to our wedding, eagerly anticipating the day we get to celebrate this new chapter with all of you!