I like to tell people that Justin and I had an invisible string that tied us together for a few years before we even met. In 2021, I (Leah) met Jamie and Trisha when they served their first year at Lonesome Dove Ranch Foster camps. After camps ended - Jamie, Trisha, and I would talk every Wednesday night since they shared that they planned on going through the adoption process. I answered their questions as they walked through the process and looked forward to our conversation every Wednesday night. At this point I had no idea Justin even existed, but Justin remembers his parents coming home particularly late one night and when he asked where they were they told him they were talking to "Princess Leah." Justin remembers his Pops telling him he should "check out Princess Leah."

Fast-forward to June 2023 - Justin goes to camp for the first time! Although we had both been serving at camp the whole month of June, it wasn't until camp 5 of 6 that we officially met. I remember the teenagers I am in charge of LOVED 'Juju' and thought he was so cool so when he walked into the chapel while we were cleaning one night and offered to give us a ride back to the building we all stay in I invited him to come hang out with us. That turned into Justin coming to hang out with us every night for the rest of the month - which led to people suspecting something happening between us to which I replied "maybe on his end, but not mine." I think I was just lying to myself because when camps ended I cried because I thought I would never get to hang out with him again.

BUT after camp ended, my sister (and maid of honor) Raquel AKA Chicky started a group text with her, Justin, and I! We talked EVERY.DAY. which turned into him inviting us over for a game night and then us staying at their house until midnight, which turned into me thinking "oh no, I think something actually is going on here." Which turned into our trio becoming a duo of just Justin and I and me writing in my journal thanking God for Justin because I felt like he was the best friend I had prayed for since moving home from school.

Which turned into me buying an international plan when I left the country a few weeks later and my parents giving me a hard time about it. I came back from that trip at 10:30pm and left for Kids Camp the next day but Justin came over at 10:30pm that night to see me before I left. We went to go get ice cream at Braums and hung out for the first time - just the two of us.

A few days after I got back Justin and I had a raw and honest conversation about life. We talked about all that the Lord had done in our lives individually and what we felt like we were called to do in our future. I remember that night as he told me his big God sized dreams, they aligned perfectly with mine. I thought to myself "is he just making this up because there is no way this is REAL!" and that's kind of how our story has gone even now; God showing up in the details showing us He has had this planned all along. After talking for hours that night Justin asked me out on our first official date and on that date he asked me to be his girlfriend!

We've learned a lot since that summer night and we have definitely grown A LOT! But we have grown together and it has been beautiful to see the way that God orchestrates things in such a beautiful way.

Justin helped me change my perspective on life and perseverance. He helps me slow down and take the time to truly see people. He challenges me to stick up for myself when necessary and reminds me of my value in Christ.

Justin and I's love has healed my view of love and being loved. When I think about how much Justin and I love each other it reminds me that the love we feel for each other is just a fraction of God's love for us and that blows me away!

We are thankful that God put us in each others lives at just the right time. You can't deny God's hand in the middle of our story and we pray that everyone around us sees that and that we would reflect that truth all of the rest of our life together and for eternity!