Seth and Melina had known of each other for years, but their paths never truly crossed—until one day, a friend casually suggested to Seth, "You should go for Melina." He tucked the thought away, not giving it much weight at the time.

That summer, they talked as friends—nothing serious, just easy conversation. But when the fall semester rolled around, Seth returned to college for his master’s degree… or was he really going back to find a wife?

Their friendship continued, mostly through texting. At first, it was casual—until one day, Melina realized something: they were texting a lot. (Seth may not remember this part, but Melina swears she friend-zoned him early on—just to be sure of her feelings.) Yet, despite that moment, their conversations never stopped. They kept talking, kept laughing, kept building something.

Then came the day Seth finally worked up the courage to ask Melina on an activity date. At first, she hesitated—she had work that day. So, she told him no… then, at the last minute, changed her mind and said yes! That decision changed everything. Their date went so well that something just clicked.

Fast forward to August 2, 2024—Seth officially asked Melina to be his girlfriend, and of course, she said yes! Later that month, they embarked on a life-changing missions trip to Ghana, West Africa. Serving together in various ministries only strengthened their bond. And in a moment of unfiltered emotion, Melina accidentally let it slip—"I love you." (Oops! But hey, it was bound to happen sooner or later!)

As time passed, their love grew deeper. When Christmas break arrived, Melina traveled to Georgia to spend New Year’s with Seth’s family. And on December 28, 2024, under the glow of the holiday season, Seth got down on one knee and popped the big question.

And the rest? Well, the rest is just the beginning of their forever.