I first saw Molly while standing in the back of the Worship Center at Bridge Cities Church! I saw someone go up to meet her and I remember being so excited seeing someone new meeting a friend so quickly.

The next day. I got to meet her! She had been invited to our small group bowling night (shoutout to Madi!) and we were introduced! Within a few minutes she shared some of her experience being a teacher in China and I was instantly engaged in knowing everything I could about her. 2 hours of holding up our friends bowling later, we had covered a lot of ground and I needed more of this human in my life.

I had a flight leaving for Virginia to visit my brother a few days later. After waiting through a storm most of the night my flight was cancelled and I was stuck in O'Hare. In driving back to the Quad Cities the next day, Nick and Katie (our small group leaders) hosted a game night! I was so hoping Molly would go. Running on 3 hours of sleep, I went to the hangout. 3 minutes after Molly walked in with cookies, I didn't leave her side. On our way to our cars afterward she stopped to share how much she appreciated me sharing who people were when they were mentioned in stories in conversation. She made me blush, and I fumbled through an ask to go get coffee with me next week.

Thanks to the kindness of our small groups friends filling in with clarity what this coffee was for - we had a date!

I went home to Houston that week and the Lord humbled me down to my core. Conversation after conversation - with Austin, Lee, Duncan, Parker, and Bryce - left me so aware of God's kindness and my need for His grace. In those days of humbling, I was reminded only He could make something beautiful of my exploring partnership with another. So, with lots of prayer, I returned to Iowa excited to drink coffee with Molly.

That date included 6 hours of coffee shop convo, impromptu lunch at Lemongrass, and a target run, and we were off. Within a month of dating Molly I was telling friends I was ready to buy a ring. After her visit to see my family in Houston I was sold. She was already planning a way to join me for another trip in the Winter. She wanted to invest into my family 1000 miles away! I purchased a ring 2 days after we got back.

After months of engagement, I still have so much to learn about her! And so much humility to learn for myself. The Lord is so kind to give us the gift of a partner to sort through so much of the mess in our hearts. Jesus chose me in the midst of my sin, and Molly and I get to choose each other in the same way!

Jesus is the King of our story, and the only one who could convince me I was worthy of trying to know Molly Mickley. Now, a year later from a bowling night. I get to commit to knowing her and seeing her beauty grow forever! What a sweet deal.