In March 2024 I was preparing to graduate Bethany Global University. I had started a group that would go to the climbing gym every Sunday, and when Caden returned from travel overseas we both went to the same climbing gym and were introduced by a mutual friend. Caden tells me that he immediately noticed my smile and wondered who I was X) I didn't climb with him much that first time. For me I started noticing him the next couple times we climbed. The group was smaller, and we hung out a bit more, just getting to know his character and personality which was a LOT of fun. I started REALLY looking forward to having Caden there every Sunday and watching him. After we talked about plans after graduation however, Caden started pulling back much to my disappointment. Then he called me and told me straight that we should just stay friends X( HUGE disappointment but I tried to get over it. That didn't work.

During the summer I was overseas and obviously still thinking about what a bummer it was to have met such a good example of a guy and then have to move on. I ended up reaching out intending to simply send a picture, but it quickly spiraled into conversation and then deeper conversation and Caden KEPT impressing me with his character. I reminded myself often that he wasn't an option X)

The Lord took us on separate journeys of growth that summer. By the end of the summer it became clear to me that I needed to stop talking to Caden so much because I really liked him (and I thought I knew he did not like me back). It was a part of what God was doing in my heart that summer, and what He was asking me to give to Him (ask me about it! I'd love to share the full story). So when I got back and went with my family on vacation, I got council on how to go about it and hyped myself up for what would for sure be our last conversation ever.

I got to Caden before he could get to me and tell me about what had changed for him that summer - and told him we needed to stop talking as much. (In my mind, I figured that "as much" meant "never talk again" because who would keep talking to somebody after that?) but thank GOODNESS Caden did not accept that and asked me for a couple days to think and pray on it. I was like WHAT THE HECK I THOUGHT I WAS LOSING THIS?!?!

Actually, God was kind enough to give back what I gave up :) A couple days later Caden asked to pursue me SO smooth. I was so excited that I really had no idea what to do. That happens a lot X) About 10 days later Caden surprised me in NC to ask me officially to be his girl - I could not have agreed faster!

That was August 16th. We have been dating long distance ever since! We have enjoyed the challenge and blessing long distance, visits over the weekend, hikes and long drives, coffee, sunrises, cooking together, and all the movie nights.

On Jan 1st of 2025 Caden surprised me with a proposal at sunrise!! lanterns lined the path to an amazing view and MY MAN standing there. The rest will soon be history ;) I'm so excited to invite you all into that!

One day in March, I was in my climbing gym, gearing up for my first day back in a month, when a friend happened to be there, too. We recognized each other, and he introduced me to his friends. One of whom had a really cute smile and said she was there every Sunday afternoon to climb. I decided I would too.

I quickly learned her positive attitude was really fun, and her constant smiles always brightened the room. Several weeks went by, and I was wondering if she was single and what her plans were.

To my disappointment, she was moving home to North Carolina indefinitely after graduation. I did NOT want to do a long distance relationship, so I decided to try to distance myself, thinking she would get the hint.

She did not. She had caught on to my initial feelings and reciprocated, so I figured that when she moved home that the distance would be enough.

It was not. We kept texting to the point that I saw the need to "friendzone" her. So I called her and had the awkward conversation. I thought that would work.

It did... for a little bit, but then I checked my phone to find a text from Lottie. She just so happened to be in Dubai looking at the tallest building in the world, and there just so happened to be window cleaners on the building at that moment, so she snapped a photo and sent it to me. (I manage and work for a window cleaning company.) I thought it was super interesting and peppered her with questions. Those questions turned into more questions and questions about her trip. Both of us love to engage on deeper levels, so we naturally moved away from small talk. Long text responses turned into occasional voice messages which turned into us sending a response every other day. Looking back, we both laugh at how we would wait a whole 24 hours to respond to one another, even though we would see the notification almost as soon as it came in.

This went on for another month, and I realized we were talking way to much as "just friends," and I knew that things couldn't stay that way. I would need to reaffirm what I had told her at the beginning of the summer, which would likely be the real end to our friendship. The more I thought about it, the more I did not want to do it, and not just because I was nervous. It was more than that; I realized I didn't want to stop talking to her. Uh oh... I liked her!

Once I realized it, I waited a week to make sure, and then decided I needed to talk with her dad, but before I got to him, Lottie got to me first. She called me... to tell me that we needed to talk less since we were just friends. Shoot.

I apologized to her for leading her on, but then mumbled out something along the lines of wanting to ask her out back in the spring but didn't because of the distance but now things had changed and I need to think and pray and that I would get back to her after I talked to her dad. It was NOT smooth, but she encouraged me saying she looked forward to hearing from me.

So the next day I got the green light from her dad and called her back. This is how it went.

"Hello?"

"Hey!"

"Hi!"

...

"So uh... about what you said yesterday."

"Uh-huh..."

"You said we should talk less... well, quite frankly I think that's a BAD idea. I think instead we should do the opposite! I want to get to know you more. What do you think about that?"

*giggle* "I would love that."

That was six months ago, and it will be seven when we say "I do." I cannot wait for that day! It really can't come soon enough!