"We would never work out, we just aren't each other's type." "No, no we are just friends." "This that you see right here is none other than plain old platonic friendship."

So I'm sure you're wondering how we went from these phrases to wanting to spend the rest of our lives together, good question let me tell you.

First of all let me warn you that there is nothing ordinary about our story. It's pretty quirky and fun but we like it that way. So June of 2020 my Maid of Honor and I decided to take a road trip to meet some friends on the Central Coast. We got invited there on the terms of it being a ministry trip.

Now if you're wondering what the heck I'm talking about it went something like this. We got asked to volunteer at a kid's goat surf camp. Yes you heard me right, kids, goats, surfing goats, and regular surfing were all a part of that weekend.

We met a lot of people and did a lot of surfing...or in my case drank a lot of salt water. Somewhere between an ocean spin cycle and petting a goat I was introduced to this wonderful human Kristian. Immediately my Maid of Honor being an incredible wing woman says, "You should date that tall guy with the 6 pack." Good thing I didn't make my decision off of pure muscle tone because as I learned later they were just tan lines from a hunched over sitting position.

What really got my attention about Kristian was his goofy sense of humor. I love to laugh and many times we found ourselves giggling uncontrollably at the silliest things. He has this way of commanding the attention of a room by doing the goofiest things. I loved that he was not shy. In fact, the first time we really had a conversation it started by him yelling across an In N Out parking lot, "Girls come sit over here. "

Then we spent the rest of the night laughing as he entertained us for a couple hours. From this point forward began a really fun friendship with Kristian. At this point I had decided that I wanted to move to the Central Coast. So Candace and I packed up and moved just two months later.

Kristian and I would hang out off and on for a year remaining friends. At this point friends around us were starting to get suspicious of our relationship. There was many a couch or girls night intervention of "Why don't you date Kristian," or "Are you guys together?" To which my answer was always "no, no you guys don't get it we are just really good friends, and we have similar life goals, and we have the same humor and we both love God and the list goes on. I know what you are thinking, I'm goofy for not seeing it sooner. Looking back now I don't know how I missed it.

I also really believe in timing. When I look at our story now I can see the hand of God moving us towards each other. We make sense together on so many levels. I'm thankful that God was slow with us and patient when we didn't see it yet. There is something so beautiful about whatever path we take in life. I believe that God is constantly routing us into his love for us.

On this adventure with Kristian I have experienced it time and time again. Where we think it is going to look like one thing but by his mercy we get take an even better route into his love for us. We really experienced this when God routed us to each other on Kristian's family camping trip June 2021.

We spent the most amazing time at Hume Lake. There were bike rides, wind surfing, kayaking and plenty of laughs. It was at this point I began to really notice what an incredible guy Kristian is. I saw the way he loved his family and how he was up for anything that sounded fun.

Our mutual friend had also begun to notice that 'love was in the air.' Being a good friend, she began to get involved. In the days after the trip she would ask Kristian, "So what's up with you and Natalie?" Kristian remained strong for 3 whole days until finally he let out a shaky, 'UHHHHHH.'

To which our friend said, "You better hurry Natalie isn't the type to wait around forever." He quickly called me to meet up to talk and the rest is history. I'm beyond thankful for that shaky "UGHHHH". More than that I am so grateful for our friendship.

Kristian has been the best gift God has ever given me. Now we are far from perfect and we drive each other nuts sometimes, but I can confidently say there is no one on this earth that I would rather spend my whole life with. I am excited to see what God has for us in these next chapters of our lives.

I love you endlessly Kristian Kurt. I cannot wait to be your wife. xoxo