Gabe and I had been going to Cross Church Pinnacle Hills since around 2017 without crossing paths. We were both always one foot in and one foot out, trying to figure out life while attending church when we found it convenient. In the years following 2017, we’d both had different intimate moments with God where He shook us back to the reality of what it looks like to not only be a child of God in identity but LIVE our faith out in our everyday lives. We both took detours to this place, but God was still faithful to bring us back to Him again in His abundance of grace and love.

At the start of 2022, our paths still hadn't crossed. We both committed to God that we would not just go back to church but also serve Him by giving back to the local church that had always been there for us. In late January of 2022, a ministry through Cross Church called The Social NWA, which caters to young adults, started again after winter break.

On the second gathering of that month, the location was Cross Church Springdale. On Gabe's way to the Social serving meeting (the Huddle), he hit a deer that ruined the entire front bumper of his car. He yanked the bumper off, stuffed it in his car, and told God, "If you get me there, Im going. If I break down on the way, I'll come back home." His car made it. All the while, I was hesitating because I had anxiety about driving again after being pulled over that morning for expired tags on my car (lesson learned, don't worry). I gave that fear to God and went anyway.

Gabe and I each had things attempting to keep us from going that night, but because we said YES to God, He provided a way. He didn't just make a way, but made a PERFECT way and got us there exactly when we were supposed to be. We pulled into the parking lot at the same time. We didn't know where to go, so Gabe followed me as if I did (lesson learned there too). I led us to the wrong side of the building, so we were the only two cars in that parking lot. When we got out of our cars, he asked me if I knew where I was going. I said no and that I'd never been to this campus before. We just laughed it off and small-talked while being escorted by the security guard to the other side of the building.

We parted ways and didn't talk again for another two Social gatherings. At the next Social, one of my friends brought Gabriel to meet our group. We remembered each other and became good friends very quickly. My girlfriends could tell he probably had a thing for me, but I was in the dark and clueless about stuff like that. While at coffee, I told him that I wasn't ready to pursue anything. In Gabe Carter fashion, he made it clear that he wanted to take me on a date. I politely declined and said, "Friends is all I can do."

We would go on walks and hang out in our big group after church, so we got closer over the next couple of months and even traded books to read. His favorite line to use was that he was glad to hit that deer so he could meet me. That was a line that helped me remember the significance of God's plan and timing in our lives.

It almost felt unavoidable to fall for him. Later, that feeling became real, so I felt ready to pursue something real with Gabriel. My favorite quality of Gabriel's is how quick he was to go all in and serve God with his yes on the table. It wasn't for anyone else's approval except God's. I saw that lived out throughout our friendship.

He lovingly agreed to start courting me, even though he was ready to go all-in on dating, I did not get the green light from God to say yes, so this was the alternative. That month was filled with constant prayer, asking advice from mentors and close friends, and putting Gabe through the wringer when asking about his walk with the Lord. On April 1st, 2022, I put my yes on the table to Gabe. We stepped into a beautiful love story of God's provisions, promises, and PERFECT timing.

Looking back, I can see that God was the Master Weaver of our tangled, messy stories. At the same time, He was single-handedly weaving in redemption and restoration, which makes it a beautiful testimony to God's goodness and faithfulness to use two broken people that love God and each other to advance His kingdom. We are both forever grateful that He has never left nor forsaken us. We are by no means perfect, but we both fully trust in the ONE who is. His name is Jesus. I do not doubt that He will continue to guide our paths and give us exactly what we need to follow Him, serve Him, and find His everlasting joy along the road. I know God has a calling for our relationship that is bigger than ourselves. I know He has strategically and intentionally placed us together so that Gabe and I can walk in that calling better than we ever could have alone. Christ is our firm foundation and the rock on which we stand together. Our house is built on Him alone. We'll be praising His name for the rest of our lives. One vital truth we learned from how we met was that life's setbacks are big, but God is bigger.

Hallelujah.