While every good story can be traced back to "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth," we'll pick up a little closer to the present day. Instead of the dawn of time, Sarah and Scott met at the very dawn of 2015, beginning a story of God's faithfulness and grace.

~

In 2015, on a cold January day, my sister introduced me to her new friends the Larkins - four brothers who loved the Lord. I was immediately impressed with their careful words and love for each other. However, Scott's humor from day one made him my favorite. In that first year, I went from thinking he was a lot of fun, to him becoming my best friend, to by December realizing that somewhere along the way, I had come to love him. ~ Sarah

~

Sarah became a dear friend, but falling in love with her was the last thing on my mind. I wasn't looking for someone. I had boundaries. But when I realized I never, ever wanted to lose this incredible friend of amazing character, I had to ask myself why. Answering that question began the internal war where I struggled with the next questions - "what does God want?", "is it even right for me to love her?", "if I really loved her, wouldn't I run as far away as I could to protect her?" I didn't realize that she had also come to love me. ~ Scott

~

In 2018 I felt like God asked me if I would trust him with my friendship and love for Scott, even if that meant taking it away. It was hard to let go and live with open hands. From that day until February 6th of 2021, I Surrender All was not just a hymn, it was my prayer and battle cry against trying hold too tightly to something God hadn't given me. ~ Sarah

~

As years went by and we stuck with each other as closer and closer friends, I felt I was failing harder at answering those questions with each passing week. Towards the end of 2020, I started to realize that God wasn't calling me to answer them perfectly - He was calling me to walk. Walk imperfectly, but walk with Him, straight towards Sarah. This took more courage than almost anything I'd ever done. ~ Scott

~

I could tell that something big was on Scott's mind on February 6th. I thought maybe he had found out I cared and was about to put distance in our friendship. When he told me he loved me, I was so in shock, it took me what felt like a long time to be able to speak and tell him I loved him back. ~ Sarah

~

I'm glad she didn't hear what I said before "I love you," because it was really, really dumb. I hadn't realized she was bracing herself for the moment I'd tell her we had to put more distance between us. I mean, I was bracing myself for whatever she'd say. So when I found out she'd loved me back for so long, I jumped into a bewildering mix of joy and "I'm sorry I so cruelly made you wait so long!" That led to an amazing story of God's timing that Sarah shared with me (He even worked through my foolishness), which turned the bewildering mix into contentment and praise. He's good like that. ~ Scott

~

On June 30, 2021, my birthday, Scott and I took a walk down the country lane. We had taken this walk many, many times both in our friendship, and also as a couple. Scott turned to me and asked me to marry him. I was surprised, but it didn't take me long to say yes!!! ~ Sarah

~

Yep. I didn't want to be apart from her again, just in case Texas pulled any more snow stunts on us. ~ Scott

~

I still am in awe of how God wrote our story and continues to write it. I often look at Scott and wonder how anyone who knows me as well as he does would ask me to spend a lifetime with them. He knows my faults, has run up against my stubbornness, and has heard me say and do a lot of stupid stuff. Yet, while I don't deserve him, I'm grateful to have him in my life. That, my dear friends, is God's goodness. ~ Sarah

~

Not as much stupid stuff as she's heard from me. ~ Scott

~

Hand in hand, with hearts surrendered to God, we face the future knowing that God will continue to guide us down the road of life. He is faithful.