Sarah and Chris's story began in the Spring 2022 semester at Wayland Baptist University. Chris was a walking ball of anxiety, having already had two major changes and a transfer before the completion of his sophomore year. He had hoped for a fresh start as he followed the Lord's call to vocational church ministry. Sarah was a quiet, hardworking honors student at the top of her class. She was pursuing an Education degree in order to pursue her calling she knew for years-- elementary school teaching. Little did they know that this was the Lord's providence in action.

The two then-strangers had a Spiritual Formations class together. Chris was always a man of few words, so he sat in the back of the class, in order to avoid being called on or talked to. Sarah, studious as can be, sat in the 2nd row in the middle section of the classroom. The two barely knew each other existed at this point. It wasn't until Grace, a common friend and Sarah's then-roommate, caught up to Chris at a church event and convinced him to talk to her.

It had been weeks (6 to be exact) since Chris had talked with Grace and he still hadn't mustered up the courage to talk to Sarah. It was the week before spring break, so he needed to act fast. The professor had cancelled class that day and we were all already in the classroom. Upon hearing the news, everyone promptly got up and walked out. Chris knew this was a good opportunity. They made small talk, but it was the best small talk. Chris knew from just that one interaction that he and Sarah's relationship would blossom. Before Sarah knew it, Chris was showing up at her work, where they would talk for hours on end.

The final 8 weeks of the semester flew by, but Chris was able to convince Sarah to go on a few dates and even the Spring Formal Dance. Towards the end of April, Chris got the guts to Define the relationship. He expressed to Sarah all that he felt about her and his interest in continuing and progressing in their relationship. At the time, Sarah did not know exactly how she felt. They both, however, knew that things weren't over.

Fast forward to September of the following semester, and Chris asked Sarah out on a bowling date. Chris had practiced what he was going to say to her, but couldn't find the courage to say it. He prayed to God, "Lord, if I bowl my personal best in this game, I will ask her to be my girlfriend." Sure enough, he bowled somewhere in the 160's. Still too timid, Chris pulled a Gideon, and asked God to let him bowl his personal best again. The second time was not as fortunate as the first. He did not bowl his personal best. STILL doubting, he asked God one more request-- that Sarah would bowl a strike. For context, Sarah had polished the gutters for most of the game, so bowling a strike seemed like a long shot. In the 9th frame of the final game that was played, Sarah bowled a strike. Chris finally asked her to be his girlfriend upon seeing this feat. This time Sarah was confident in her answer, "YES!"

Chris and Sarah dated for 13 months until Chris finally popped the important question. And though he still stuttered over his words, he was much less timid this time. He asked her to marry him, and she said YES!