Rose

I met Reid during his only semester at Bob Jones University, during the one(ish) month that we worked at the same place (Brody's Grille at the Den on campus - this is where love stories start, y'all). To show even more the unlikeliness of our even meeting, the only reason I was working the night we met was because I had taken on a sub shift. So there I was, subbing over at the Papa John's station, and I see this guy working over at my usual station. It was closing time for all the food stations and I was working hard making sure dishes were done, floors were swept, and that my area had a general appearance of cleanliness. Chick-Fil-A was between Papa John's and Brody's and had been particularly slammed that night, so I had offered to sweep their floors. After I diligently swept my floor and Chick-Fil-A's floor, I stopped at Brody's and noticed the floors hadn't been touched in the least. Naturally, this bothered my little OCD heart greatly. The guy working at Brody's was just meandering around, taking his time getting what little clean up he had done. So naturally, I marched up to him and handed him the broom. "I see you haven't swept your floor yet. Here, I'm done with the broom. You better get on that." I could tell this guy was new to campus (I thought he was an older freshman) so I foolishly assumed he would see that I was an upperclassman (a senior!) and not to be trifled with and comply. His response? "Excuse me? You have the broom, just sweep it yourself!" Accompanied with that laugh I've now come to love so much. Back then it just annoyed me - did he think this was funny? Clean-up is serious business! After stubbornly arguing my case (this was my usual station, it was never swept properly, and for pity's sake the pots don't belong there) he, for reasons unknown, complied and swept. My argumentativeness quickly melted away, I introduced myself, joined in on the friendly banter he had been trying to start (poor guy) and by the end of the night there were no hard feelings. The next few weeks saw multiple encounters with this same guy, finding out his actual age (and feeling ashamed for thinking a guy younger than me was cute!), and taking sub shifts during what I knew would be his shift. I invited him to go to Genghis Grill with some friends, and he in turn invited me to chaperone him and his friends (and the girl he was dating at the time) to the same restaurant. I looked forward to encounters with Reid, wondering where I'd run into him next (it was usually the Den). His band of friends ended up going to my church and so I saw him more often. I can still remember how truly disappointed I was when he told me he wouldn't be returning to BJU for the spring semester, or at all. I implored him to keep in touch, and wondered if I'd ever see him again.

Reid

Now for my side of the story. Once upon a time, in a university not so far away (Bob Jones to be exact). I managed to acquire a lowly position at the late night version of Brody's grill. It was a dark and lonely night in the den as Papa Johns and Chickfila were closing, when suddenly, someone came over too Brody's Grill and said something to the effect of "Do you not sweep this place?" (In case you haven't guessed, this is Rose talking). I expressed facially and/or verbally something to the effect of "yeah....no". Of course, now I had to because I've been called out for it, but to be fair, Tyler, my previous partner in crime and only other person to work that particular shift, didn't sweep either, and neither did the lunch people so can't blame me for it entirely.Well we ended up working together (and by together I mean at the same time) a few more times, enough to add each other on Facebook, and eventually became actual friends. Our first date (yes, it was technically a date) was really when she invited me to Genghis Grill, (to be clear I was still single at the time), the thought definitely crossed my mind that we could probably date successfully but I didn't think anything else of it. I end up dating a different girl and ask Rose to be the chaperone (required by BJU for those of you that are confused right now) since she was a senior and how could she resist going to one of her favorite restaurants? So since she was one of, oh 3 or so seniors that I knew, I decided she was the most likely to actually go. Plus she was the only one of the 3 that was a female so better for dates. But even when I was dating someone else, Rose and I were still friends and we ran into each other every now and again, usually at Mornigside Baptist or in the den, and it was kind of...mutually unspoken and thus mutually thought that we were friends and that was it. I was sure thinking that for the most part, come to find out almost 2 years later that she was not. The end of the semester came and on vacation I decided that BJU was not going to be cost effective so I concluded that I shan't return, not any time soon anyway. I explored my options over the next few months and came to the conclusion that a sufficient job would be far too difficult to find so the military seemed like the best option. I told my girlfriend at the time and she broke up with me for it, but it was for the best. That fall I took a vacation, my very first road trip on my own to visit Tyler and Josh and Richard (see groomsmen section). While I was in the Greenville area I also attended a service at Morningside, immediately searching for Rose among the choir. When I couldn't find her I sent her a message asking why she wasn't in the choir. Of course she had no idea I was even there until then.The days came and went and Rose and I talked via Facebook here and there, and then my time had come. Bootcamp was upon me. [TO BE CONTINUED]

Rose

After Reid left BJU, I assumed we'd stay in touch but would likely not see each other again. Either way, stay in touch we did! Not many days passed between conversations. Our Messenger history is filled with discussions, sticker wars, attempts to figure out I could play games with him and other friends on campus wifi (spoiler alert: it's extremely difficult), and even a pun war. We kept up on each other's lives and our friendship grew. He visited Greenville a couple of times throughout the year before he left for bootcamp, and once even wound up surprising me at church (effectively making my day). I remember one visit my first semester of grad school. I was overwhelmed with seminary homework and we'd been trying to go on a run together and it just wasn't working out. He sent me a message saying he was hanging out in the Den by himself and I should join in. I hemmed and hawed - I wanted to hang out with Reid, but I had so much homework. "Just bring your homework and do it here." That was more than enough convincing. I grabbed my notes and my computer and headed to the Den. That evening (and the following evening), the couple of times I left my spot next to him I had several friends lean in and ask me if that was my boyfriend with me or maybe an interest?? I had no idea how to respond. "He's not my boyfriend. An interest? Uh... I'm not sure. We're friends. We talk a lot. He's a nice guy..." and on I'd ramble. I'd thought about dating him off and on ever since we'd met. But every time I set aside any inkling of that idea, making up all kinds of excuses for myself. "He's probably not interested anyway." "I'm just that weird nerd girl he plays games with." "It would be weird." I'm really good at fooling myself. Time went on, he went to bootcamp, graduated, and started A school. We both got busier and sometimes more time passed between conversations than usual. We'd bemoan our mutual singleness when we did talk, trying to encourage each other to be patient. Until one day, in April, we finally actually started admitting what we'd known all along: we liked each other. Really liked each other. And probably had since day one. I can remember the emotions swirling all over me the night we started dating. We talked on the phone for almost two hours, beating around the bush, discussing life and goals and dreams. Both of us were more than willing to support the other in whatever endeavor either of us pursued. We had both been praying about this very thing, even praying through the same verse. "But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him" (James 1:5, NASB). I will never forget that evening in April, as I sat in my car on the phone, agreeing to embark on the adventure of falling in love with my best friend.

Reid

Where was I...ahhh yes, bootcamp. A solid 2 months of being sick and spending more time folding clothes and making beds than actually doing any kind of exercise. On Christmas however, they let us have a few smartphones for the day so we could contact friends and family. I ended up messaging Rose at some point that day, and though I didn't think much of it (she was my friend after all) but she sure did. I graduate bootcamp and make it to my next command, nuke school. In the process of catching up with everyone that cared that I hadn't been accessible for the past 2 months, Rose told me her brother was about to join the Navy too so she had lots of questions. Once her brother went to bootcamp we talked more and more (by talked I mean messaged, mostly) and since I had just left bootcamp I could give her a decent idea of what her brother was going through and how to help cheer him up. It was around this time that I thought much more seriously about dating Rose, but I wasn't quite sure and I didn't want to ruin the friendship we had already established. Then, one Sunday morning at church, the pastor gave a story of his own relationship problems. He thought he was supposed to marry this girl he was dating but he wasn't sure and everyone he asked seemed to disagree with him. Then God lead him to James 1:5 so he prayed. God made it evident to him that he should marry this girl, so he did, and it worked out wonderfully. So I prayed. I prayed a couple times a day for the next 2-3 days for God to make it clear to me whether or not I should pursue this relationship with Rose, and he did. That day I decided I would ask her later in the evening. So when I was done with work I messaged Rose and just started a normal conversation like we had many times before. Then I carefully tried to lead the conversation to us and how we felt about being single. It was all downhill from there. I said something like "Well, we could always date each other..." and she said something along the lines of "yeah" so I replied with something like "Sooooooooo.....do you wanna?" Next thing I remember was I was asking the same question over the phone, and while it seemed she wanted to say yes, she thought her "crazy schedule" and masters in theology would scare me away.(She knows I'm in the Navy right?) I was quickly able to convince her that if either of us had a reason to back out it was her, but she thought I was worth it. Next thing I know we're dating. Woah. Who woulda thunk. Now, how to see her. Well she was only 3 hours away so it was certainly possible, but we both had crazy schedules, so being able to physically be in the same place at the same time was difficult. But we did a few times and at some point in here I realized that I knew she was the one. [Stay tuned for more adventures with Reid and Rose.]

Rose

I'll be the first to admit that Reid and I are an unusual couple. We knew we were the night we started dating. Our intent was marriage from the beginning. And we both knew if there came a point in our relationship where we couldn't see ourselves spending the rest of our lives together, that would be our sign the relationship needed to end. But as time went on and we spent hours messaging and talking on the phone (somehow squeezing all of this time in around the hours of homework, work, and class we both had) we grew closer and closer. Every time I stepped back asked myself, "Can I see this continuing?" the answer was always yes. We cautiously spoke of the future, referring to the future as "if/when." But we soon knew that the "if" was fading and the "when" was becoming much more clear. Not long after we began discussing marriage and the "when" with more concreteness, he asked for my dad's permission to propose to me. My dad was more than happy to consent. I heard nothing but good impressions about Reid (and us as a couple) from my parents, sister, friends, and others that met us. As we prayed and sought wisdom, we received it. We knew we were dating the person we would marry.

Reid was on leave after graduating from A school. We spent a few days in Florida and I got to meet his friends and visit his church. On July 5th, we drove to Greenville where he stayed for almost a week until he had to be back in Charleston. According to Reid, the original plan was to propose on July 4th, during the fireworks. But... the ring got delayed. He told me this on July 3rd, explaining that the people making it had broken the stone and it would be another couple of weeks. I was a little bummed, but accepted that he wouldn't be proposing until later in July. Unbeknownst to me, the ring was finished soon after that and he had it sent to a friend's house in Greenville and picked it up while I was at work. On Friday, July 8th, we went on a double date to a movie with Christina Acrey (a bridesmaid!) and her husband Caleb. After the movie, we were all hanging out in the theater, talking and watching all the people leave. During the movie, I had noticed something that crinkled in Reid's pocket. Normally I don't notice things in his pockets because that's just business as usual. But things in his pocket don't usual make noise. He waved it off, saying "Don't worry about it, just watch the movie." And being the trusting girlfriend I am, I didn't worry about it and watched the movie. When the lights went up, I noticed a red package sticking out of his pocket. So naturally, I assumed he had snuck in fruit snacks and didn't share (we're adults, I promise!). But the package wasn't fruit snacks. He pulled it out of his pocket - a ring pop. "Here I got you this," he said, throwing it onto his lap. I laughed, "well, thank you. You're sweet. Is this because you can't--" But I never finished my sentence. I watched in shock as he stood up, pulled a small box out of his pocket, opened it, and got down on one knee, smiling bigger than I've ever seen him smile before. I was shocked, flabbergasted. The ring wasn't supposed to be ready! Is this it? Is it real? Is this real? Oh my goodness. In all the shock, he convinced me the ring was real, I somehow got the yes out and put the ring on. I'm still in shock that a guy like Reid would fall for and want to spend his life with a girl like me. I will never deserve the way he loves me, and I am definitely the luckiest girl in the world. May 6th cannot come soon enough.

Reid

Woah woah woah, hold the phone. We're getting MARRIED!?!? Who let that happen? Are we even allowed to do this? Who asked our parents? Oh right, that was me. Well I asked her parents anyway, specifically her dad and he seemed to be ok with it so that's good enough for me. I ordered the ring the next day (I already knew exactly the one). About 5 weeks go by and I'm in Greenville for the next week or so for A School graduation leave. I get the ring on Friday and my heart rate starts increasing. It increases exponentially for the rest of the day. I was careful to hid the ring box below my wallet so it wasn't terribly obvious. Later that evening we went go to a movie on a double date with a couple that Rose is friends with. My heart was pounding. There were times where it was beating so fast I couldn't distinguish 1 beat from the next. The movie ends and everyone leaves the theater but our party and a group a few rows up. The other 3 sit and chat while I try not to look as nervous as I feel. I reach into my pocket and pull out a ring pop and hand it to Rose. (I bet she didn't see that coming.) Next thing I know I'm on 1 knee, looking her in the eye, hoping she understands what I'm trying to say because I'm way too nervous to produce words at this point in time. She's smart, she picked up exactly what I was putting down (see what I did there?) and naturally said yes. Although it was more of a "what? um, yes!....but how?!...." confirming that she was in fact surprised. Nailed it. [Thus the heroes were on their way, to start a new adventure together.]