Once upon a time, there was a nerdy little boy and a silly little girl. They knew each other from childhood and many a family get-together, but they barely spoke. Fast-forward over a decade, and they found themselves in a tandem kayak by chance at a family outing. The boy had grown up (though he was still a massive nerd), and the girl had too (and remained silly as ever), and as they paddled around the lake, the first sparks landed.

Fast forward a few more months and the boy got into a grad program at the girl's school. When move-in time came, the girl, who could have been enjoying the dog-days of summer, went out of her way to help the boy find a place to live. The sparks, at least for the boy, had caught.

Another semester began, and the boy decided to ask the girl out... only to be turned down! The girl wanted him to make friends first, wanted him to have an opportunity to grow in community and put down roots with a church. It was a shrewd move, and one that that boy took to heart. A month later, when he asked again, the girl was impressed. He'd made friends with the men's group at a local ministry, was leading a Dungeons and Dragons adventure, and immersed in his studies. The boy, for his part was having a blast, and the cherry on top, the second time around, the girl said yes!

For a year and half, they grew together. There were things they loved about one another, and things they learned to love or learned to work towards. It wasn't perfect, but it was wonderful and confusing and it left them wondering what they could accomplish if they had each other's back forever. Honesty was and is a major part of their relationship, so the girl knew what was coming, but not quite when.

On a rainy day in July, 2024, the boy called in some favors, got some help, and set up a little picnic on a picturesque, covered balcony. He invited the girl and a couple they were both close with on the pretense of a celebration for the girl's graduation. Then, when the moment was right, he distracted all present with the most convincing "whoa, what's that over there" and then got down on one knee.

There were tears and nodding and a whole lot of smiling, and as the boy writes this he is smiling at the memory. There was going to be a lot of work ahead, wedding planning for both, a first year of full-time teaching for the girl and wrapping up degree for the boy, but they knew that the Lord had brought them together for a purpose and they couldn't wait for their shared adventure to begin.

N&R