Growing up Luke and I attended the same church but don’t really remember meeting each other. Luke was between my sister and I in age and he was closer friends with her than me. We always had youth group together but we never really were friends until late high school. I had always thought Luke was cute but he was older and we did not really run in the same circles. Luke and I started playing together on the worship team and developed a casual friendship towards end of high school/beginning of college.

Our story didn’t really begin until late spring 2021. I had just gotten out of a relationship and was not really looking for a relationship (so funny how God’s timing is so different than ours). Luke and I had been becoming friends by hanging out in the college ministry. Looking back on it Luke was always around but I did not think much of it (until he told me later it was intentional). I remember inviting Luke to join some of our college friends to come play tennis after church. At the time I’ll admit I wanted him to come so we can hang around each other more. We would spend the whole time talking about anything and everything (Luke and I never had trouble coming up with things to talk about). I remember it felt so familiar; after all I had know him for forever.

Over time I started to notice that maybe Luke wanted this to be more of a friendship. Luke would call me as soon as I would get off work with “worship questions,” and end up talking for hours. I noticed that Luke would be around and any church event I was a part of he would be there (a term that New Girl fans and Luke adopted called “Bidening”). Over time I realized that Luke was exactly the kind of man I wanted to marry. Before long I started developing feelings myself (I want on record MUCH LATER than he did ;) ).

One day at college class I was talking to Luke about making chocolate chip cookies and invited him over to make cookies. I then got so nervous I proceeded to invite everyone from the college class to come to the sorority house and make cookies. At least 10 people showed up and truthfully all I wanted to do was hang out with Luke the whole time. Luke ended up leaving my house that night and I was so bummed we never got a chance to hang out alone. He called me 5 minutes later after he left and I remember him saying, “Sorry we stayed so late at your house” to which I responded “Well it really wasn’t that late you could have stayed a little longer.” We then began talking about The Muppet Movie ( I cannot remember why but I do love that movie). He mentioned we should watch that movie to which I replied jokingly, “You could always come watch it now.” Luke turned his car around and came to my house and watched the movie with me. We laughed and talked til way too late and he ended up asking me out saying, “I would like to take you on a……real date sometime.” I remember freaking out and running up to my roommate and waking her up at 3am to tell her about it.

Luke and I have been together ever since. Luke took me to Shelby Farms for our first date and we had a picnic by the lake. A little more than 2 years later Luke took me back to the same spot and proposed by the same lake where we had our first date. We were both so nervous I remember him asking, “Are you ready Lil?” and I responded with, “Uh give a second?” I made poor Luke sit on one knee for a few minutes so I could soak up the moment. The proposal was perfect despite it being 106 degrees outside. After the proposal we had a nice meal at Coastal Fish and then went to a party with all of our family and close friends. It was the best day!

Luke continues to be a testament of the Lord’s faithfulness and goodness in my life. I cannot wait to marry him :).