Chloe and I first met back in August of 2019, at the beginning of my junior year and her sophomore year at Auburn University. I had just begun working as a Youth Ministry intern for Auburn United Methodist Church where she was already a regular volunteer and small group leader. Noticing that I was struggling with the simple task of collapsing a set of miniature soccer goals at an event, my boss at the time nudged Chloe to go and help “the new intern” with putting the goals up properly (which was far from the last time she would have to show me how to do something easy like this).

As the semester progressed and my job at AUMC continued, Chloe, along with other amazing people that I had met while working at the church, slowly began to invite me to hang out with them and welcomed me into their friend group. For the next two years, our friend group would regularly hang out with one another. From basketball at the church and dinners in downtown Auburn on Wednesday nights, to football, “Wicked Tuna,” and “The Bachelorette” watch parties, and serving together at youth retreats and events, we were a tight knit group of friends. Through spending time with everyone, Chloe and I also built a strong friendship with each other as well, and for a long time, that is exactly what it was. While we shared a close bond, and the people around us were quick to point out our connection, neither of us did a whole lot about it, we just enjoyed the friendship that we shared with one another.

At the end of my senior year at Auburn, I found myself needing a date for my final fraternity date party. Not wanting to be set up or go with someone random, I decided to ask Chloe to be my date, as I knew we would have fun with one another and that she would get along well with my best friends from Farmhouse. We went to “Champagne Jam” at the Southerly Warehouse and sure enough, we had an awesome time! Being the first time we had actually hung out one on one together outside of our friend group, I began to see more clearly what people had been saying about us all this time and how well we complimented each other.

A few short months later, I decided to muster up the courage to ask Chloe on an actual date. Throughout the Summer, I would make trips down to Auburn from Birmingham (in what would wind up being a preview of our future dating long distance) to go on dates with each other before departing back north. After each date, it became more and more evident that Chloe and I “just made sense” together and we eventually decided to make our relationship official. Even though I was beginning a new job up in Birmingham and starting my seminary studies, and Chloe was still finishing her final year at Auburn, we knew that long distance would be well worth the commitment. For the first two years of our relationship, we not only had countless Facetimes, but we consistently planned out which weekends one of us would make the drive on 280 to see each other. While long distance wasn’t always easy, we saw that those two years living a few hours away only strengthened the foundation of our relationship and affirmed the connection that we shared.

This past Fall, Chloe got the opportunity to teach 2nd Grade in Birmingham and was able to move up to the 205, ending our long distance chapter and beginning a new one in the same city. We have enjoyed being closer and spending more time with each other on a regular basis. Shortly after she moved up to Birmingham, I began going through the necessary steps of asking for her family’s blessing and planning a proposal. On December 21st, after months of planning, I was able to surprise Chloe on that Thursday afternoon and I officially proposed to her on the pedestrian bridge in downtown Birmingham.

Chloe and I could not be more excited to be getting married this upcoming Summer where it all started down in Auburn and we are looking forward to begin building our life together. I for one am grateful for our story with all its many peaks and valleys and for our relationship. It was one that grew out of a real friendship and a genuine care for one another, and that will continue to serve us well throughout the rest of our lives. I couldn’t be more thankful that God blessed me with Chloe’s presence in my life and how we encourage one another to reflect Christ in all that we do. We are both grateful for our amazing families and friends who have supported us along the way.