Our story is one of redemption and second chances. Our story is one we couldn’t have created on our own even if we wanted to do so. It started with a swipe right and took many twists and turns since then. It’s a story of God’s grace exceeding more than what we could possibly hope or dream. It’s a story of God’s perfect timing and His provision for exactly what we need. How God chose to bring us to marriage and delicately weave our lives together is nothing short of God’s unfathomable mercy. It’s a story of generous patience, sought after peace, kindness, selflessness, and taking honor in loving over the broken parts of our lives as a way for Jesus to bring restoration.


Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. - 1 Peter 4:8


He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into mans heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. - Ecclesiastes 3:11


HIM:
People say dating apps are the worst. I wouldn’t know. I got on my first app the summer of 2022 and within a few weeks, Kristina had swiped right on me. We met for a quick coffee date (even though neither of us drinks coffee), and within the week had plans to meet again. I would love to say I swept her off her feet with my perfect conversation and charming personality, but our beginnings were a little more rocky than that. God knows what He is doing however, and He continued to bring us together even when we weren’t sure if thats what we wanted.


We decided to be friends in the beginning, then to try dating, then having more serious conversations of dating with the intent of marriage. After about a year, we were having more and more talks about spending the rest of our lives together. As God continued to grow us in our own lives, we were also growing closer together, going through both good times and loss.


After 15 months, I knew this was the woman God had for me. It was obvious that we were better together than we were apart, and we began to make plans to merge our lives together and to serve God as a couple. I couldnt be happier with that decision and am so excited to marry Kristina this summer.


HER:
Evan looked cute in his photos and all, but it was his clear love for Jesus that kept me intrigued. In our first few conversations, it was clear that God was a priority in his life and being connected to others who loved Jesus was important to him. I came home after that first date convinced I had met someone very special. I simply had no idea the story God was weaving together.


The beginning contained unexpected stories from the past, honest conversations, and lots of prayer. Each time I spent with Evan, I found myself coming home and craving more time with God and His word. That was undeniable. After one four hour conversation in a courtyard at the mall, we kept a friendship going.


I’m proud to say that Evan has been converted to a cat lover, an avid fan of Cracker Barrel cuisine, and my favorite gym buddy. Evan has become my best friend and someone I want to walk with through all of life’s ups and downs from here forward. I am so proud of him and continuously learn how to love Jesus better because of Evan.


For me, the growth of our relationship took time. But much like any incredibly beautiful structure, each little experience laid a brick one-by-one until one day it built something far more amazing than we could ask or think.


So, I choose him and I choose his story. All of it. Every time. I choose us. I choose our ride together from here forward knowing that anything is possible with God. We are both living proof.


Kristina Baum - Baum.Kristina@gmail.com
Evan Gargiulo - evangargiulo@gmail.com