Cooper and I met the summer of 2018 at our church youth group, Germantown Baptist Church. I wasn't looking to be in a relationship at the time but he pursued me and made an effort to get to know my friends too. They would always tell me how sweet he was and I knew I'd end up falling for him. We finally went on our first date in August. We spent most of that 1st date pouring our hearts out to each other and learning all the things we loved. I fell in love with him soon after that night because I kept seeing his heart. He was kind, but also passionate and bold. You aways knew what Cooper believed in and he wasn't afraid to stand firm on his word. We had so much fun together, and even at 17 our conversations were so deep and necessary. Lots of life hit us from there. We went to college at different places, covid happened, and we were suddenly in our 20's with no idea how to be adults. When I look back to those years, that's how I know Cooper is the one. We were teenagers when we started dating, but have spent years growing in life together. God has been so gracious to us, and refined our hearts in preparation for this. I've loved Cooper for a long time, and I've seen him grow and change. And I know now more than I ever have that I want to spend the rest of my life that way. Growing, changing, walking with Christ, and being his wife.

When Leah and I met, I was just returning to church and my faith. I had wandered for years trying to be my own Savior to absolutely no avail. I quickly found the spark to my faith that I had been looking for and desperately needing. In that same season, I was drawn to Leah. Her passion, joy and genuinely precious heart drew me to her in a way that I still can’t describe. I knew she was special from the moment I laid eyes on her. I immediately began getting to know her and her friends just as a way to be close to her. I finally got her to agree to go on a date with me after about two months of relentless pursuit. We talked and poured our hearts out on our first date and had one of our many dmcs (deep meaningful conversations as she loved to tell people), and I knew she was the one. I have spent the last 6 years loving her and getting to know new ways to love her as we grow and change. I find that when we pursue Christ it only makes that love and pursuit of one another that much more special. She is one of the most selfless and caring people I know, and she has the biggest heart in the world. She needs it to keep up with me. She was everything and more I had dreamed of and prayed for. We’ve gotten to watch each other struggle and strive throughout this journey we’ve been on, and we have both learned and found ways to continue loving even when it’s hard. I pray daily that God continue to let me be worthy of her, and I will continue to do that because she is everything i should ever need or desire. I know deep down God made me to need and strive for Leah. I know through every up and down that we will be doing it together because we love journeying life as one!