The first time I met Andrew was May 3rd, 2023 at growth group. I had joined it in hopes to make friends. He sat down across the room from me and started talking about how Aaron Rogers was going to take the Jets to the Super Bowl the upcoming season. Come to find out later he was purposely talking about it because he knew I was a Vikings fan. Throughout the next couple weeks of growth group, we didn't have a lot of interactions. He sat by me almost every week but would never make eye contact with me when he would talk to the group...to the point where I noticed. During those weeks, he would stick around until I left to go home and we had only two TINY conversations; one about his truck and one about blueberry muffins. Once growth group was over, a group of us went to Dave and Busters. That night Andrew hovered. He said it was awkward, I didn't feel that way at all, but I remember I left that night knowing something was up with him. The next day at church, he was at my service sitting in the row in front of my normal spot. He told me his "family left him" so I moved up a row to sit by him. After service he followed me out, we talked briefly and parted ways. Later that day I got a text asking me out. I was a little confused because I thought he knew I was leaving. I took some time and eventually responded letting him know that I was moving across the country and didn't want to lead him on by saying yes. He told me after that he didn't want to regret at least not trying. I told him if I was staying I would have said yes. It turns out he had already thought about the distance and thought it would be worth getting to know each other since me leaving was why I wasn't going to accept a date, and he told me that. Later that week we went on our first date. The second time we hung out, Andrew got a taste of what his future held. We went hiking...and I talked...the ENTIRE TIME. Which leads into something I love about Andrew. Andrew's presence brings me so much peace and comfort that I talk a ton. The only other person who has ever experienced me like that is my mom. On July 11th, we sat and had the conversation of where what we had was going. I was nervous for it, preparing to maybe end what we had. I wasn't going to ask him to move for me, but I couldn't stay in Connecticut. I let him talk first and he told me if it gets to the point where someone needs to move, he'll move to MN. I was stunned. I almost cried and didn't know what to say. He then asked if I would be his girlfriend. Not long after that, he had to clarify with me that he actually asked! August 11th he met my parents when they came out to see me get pinned and told me he loved me in the hotel parking lot. At the beginning of September we started long distance, taking turns flying out to each other every month. As hard as long distance as been, we both agree it has strengthened our relationship in a way that being together wouldn't have. On March 7th, we headed to the shore to hunt for crabs, which I was fully ready to do. He brought me out onto the wall where we were looking at the water and for a moment I thought he was going to propose, but when he didn't, I decided I was done looking at the water and ready to go find those crabs. With him behind me, I heard "I love you most", which was something we agreed on that he couldn't do until he proposed. I said "no you can't" and started walking away because, you know, crabs. He then had to tell me to turn around where he was on his knee with a beautiful ring in a custom-made box featuring our initials, the date and the coordinates of that exact moment.

I didn't know men like Andrew existed before I got to be the one loved by him. He desires so much to give me all that I want, to protect me, to make sure I am ok and everything in between. Andrew's presence puts me in a state where I don't do great at thinking. My brain automatically knows he has everything covered and I don't need to worry. One time he had to remind me I should probably charge my phone before I flew home because my tickets where on there and it was almost dead. I'm so lucky to be loved by Andrew's heart, and I'm beyond blessed he chose me.

The first time I saw Mason was her first time at our church in the August that she moved to CT. I was greeting that morning so I got to open the door for her and I certainly noticed her. After I saw her, I told myself if I ever saw her again, I would go up to her and ask her out. I chickened out the next two times I saw her in church... The first time we officially met was in May, when we happened to be in the same growth group at church. I knew from that first time meeting, hearing her talk, that she had the most amazing heart and I wanted to know her more. I told my sister and brother in law that night that I was crushing pretty hard and wanted to pursue her. I began to pray daily for guidance, knowing that Mason would be moving back out of the state at the end of the summer. Through 8 weeks of growth group, seeing each other every Wednesday night, I was too scared week after week to talk to her. I looked at her when she wasn't looking at me and I talked to the group, never making eye contact with her but made sure to sit next to her anyway. I like to say I was playing hard to get, trying to make her think I wasn't interested but, anyone who knows me, knows that I was just too scared to even talk to her. After the growth group ended and I still hadn't asked her out, I devised a plan. I decided in church the following week, I would go sit in church before service started and wait for Mason to come in, then I would ask her if I could sit with her. What really happened is, she walked in, sat in the row behind me, then she asked to sit with me because she saw that I was alone. We said maybe a couple sentences to each other then sat in silence the rest of service. I chickened out once again afterward and left without asking her out. Later that day at home, I decided I was running out of time, so I texted her, asking if she would want to go out sometime. I like to tease her and say that she told me "no" but the reality is, she was trying to protect my heart because she was moving back home. Thankfully she told me that if she was staying in CT, she would have said yes and that she would love to hang out sometime. I took that as an opportunity to not give up and tell her that I knew she was moving and was prepared to start something knowing this. I knew that God had called me to her and I could not ignore that call, no matter what. We went on our first date that same week, dinner and mini golf, where I learned quickly how competitive she is, even though I smoked her! I was even so bold as to tell her that she would never pay on our dates, indicating that there would be more. July 11, we became an official couple, after I told her that if we progressed enough to the forever point, I would move for her. Then, on August 11, after her pinning ceremony, I told her that I love her for the first time. Shortly after that, Mason moved back to Minnesota. We take turns, visiting each other at our homes once a month. In December, we went ring shopping in Minnesota and I purchased her engagement ring right away. On March 7, I proposed at the beach, just two weeks after I received her ring. Mason is the most perfect, humble, loving, caring person I have ever met. She has the most beautiful heart and I am blessed to be the one to love it and be loved by it. I have loved Mason since that day we met at growth group in May and I will love her forever and always.