We first met in the summer of 2020. We were both students at Houston Christian University, and I, Nathan, had just joined the campus worship band, Refuge, of which Sarah was the newly appointed director. Through worship nights, and small groups, and late night Whataburger hangs, we became good friends, and the following year we were set to direct the band together. Through that experience, we learned a lot about one another, particularly in the areas of our differences, but nevertheless, we grew closer. Directing Refuge together taught us how to use both our strengths/weaknesses to make a good team and lead well together. After this, I, Sarah, graduated and started working on staff for the Baptist Student Ministry at HCU while Nathan finished his senior year. During this time we both felt like we were good friends, but not much more. It wasn't until I, Nathan, had committed to work for the BSM as well that we finally started to think there might be more to us. As the school year came to a close, we both knew that there was something between us but were SURE it wasn't mutual. Thank goodness it was (everybody else seemed to know it before we did haha), and in July of 2023 we started dating. I'm sure you can fill in the blanks afterwards! Our hope and prayer is that our marriage would reflect God’s goodness and glory, and that together, we will seek Jesus and become a little more like Him each day.

After some typical teenage heartbreaks, I remember feeling daunted by the idea of finding one person to spend the rest of your life with. This seemed like a near impossible task, or at the very least, one I wasn't equipped for. I brought it to God and would often pray prayers like this: God, since you know the hearts and minds of us all, could you help me find someone to be with? I don't think I'll be able to do it by myself. As I look back, now that we're almost to always, it is clear to me that it was God who brought me to her. He was the one who guided my steps. He was the one who put me on the good path, though I didn't always choose it. I'm still underqualified and prone to foolishness, but God is good, and He is being better to me than I deserve. You should know, Sarah is the biggest proof of that.

When one of my friends met Nathan for the first time, she said, “I wasn’t sure what the right guy for you would be like, but after meeting Nathan, he’s it.” I couldn’t say it better. :) When I met Nathan, we were pretty different. But I think my favorite thing about our relationship was that the Lord gave us three years to build the best and sweetest friendship before we started dating. Nathan became a good friend our first year in the band together, a great friend the year we directed Refuge together, and more than a friend during that last year. He makes me laugh, he brings out my goofy side, and he keeps me steady. He’s so many things I didn’t know I needed, and I am the better for it. Nathan’s name means “a gift,” and he is that - a gift that the Lord, in His kindness, saw fit to give me, and I’m forever grateful.