Chapter 1 - Spicy Chicken Tray and a Double Chocolate Shake
Our story begins on August 18th, 2019 at a Cookout in Pineville, NC – a bunch of friends were getting together to hang out in between church and our youth worship experience, Rhythm Night. By a mutual friend, we met one another and by chance, we sat across from each other. This is the day that started our journey and our journey started as friends. We began to volunteer at church together and soon we started to hang out. Trips to Cookout, playing games with family, and texting all the time became quite normal. As time went by, a pair of white Crocs and a hoodie later, we went from friends to a dating couple. What a beautiful start, what a beautiful spark.
Chapter 2 - death bed by powfu
Sky
After a couple of months of dating, it was time to make it official. A trip to Colorado in February was all it took to devise the perfect plan. Here’s the plan: 1) Convince her of a break-up before her flight back home. 2) Wait at the airport baggage claim with a sign reading ‘I know it’s late and you’re tired but will you be my girlfriend?”. 3) Wait for her response and hope she says yes. Great plan right? No, not really. But on February 11th, 2020, we made it official…we were now together in a relationship. For the next (almost) two years, we had the best time in the world – beach trips, quarantine, Massanutten, mini golf, Olive Garden, a dog named Sky, more, and more, and even more. Just two teenagers figuring out life and the intricacies of being in a relationship.
Chapter 3 - Houston, we have a problem
Have you ever heard the saying “You only know you love something when you let it go”? Well if 2022 could have a quote of the year…it would be that. Starting at 16 and 17 and now we are 19 and 20, there was a lot of growth but we were still so young. Through trial and tension, we came to a place where we believed that the only way we could ever be together was to take a step away from each other and take a bigger step toward God. This year marked a moment in our story because this could have been the end of our book. But…through God, through growth, we came back together as different people. This season of our life wasn't planned but it was required for us to grow up. Break-ups are sometimes not easy and they suck, ours saved us.
Chapter 4 - Back Like We Neva Left
Broke-up in January of 2022 and back together in December 2022….11 months is a long time but man was it refreshing to know we had someone to share Christmas and New Year's with. Hooray! We came back together after almost a year apart and it felt amazing. Now the goal wasn’t to get to know each other again, it was to put a rock on that finger and plan the walk down the altar. Well that didn’t happen as fast as we had thought, actually it wasn’t fast at all. It wasn’t until January 26th, 2024 when a knee fell to the ground and the question the world had been waiting for was finally asked. “Will you marry me?” Fill the streets with celebration because the once teenage kids who met at a Cookout, are now getting married! Let’s plan a wedding, let’s get premarital counseling started, and let’s start the marriage of a lifetime!.
Chapter 5 - A Whole Lotta New
Oh, wait…this chapter isn’t written yet. Though, we do have a couple blue’s clues about this chapter. The first thing is we will be stepping into a new marriage on May 24th, 2024! Husband and wife, in covenant, starting the beautiful lifelong journey of marriage. The second thing is we will be moving to a new city this summer! By obedience to God, we are moving to Austin, TX to help plant and build a church with our family. #HOL A new marriage. A new city. A new life. That is a whole lotta new at once but we are ready for God to move in our life unimaginably. This chapter isn’t written yet but from what we can see, this chapter is going to be one to remember. Thank you for taking the time to read this. As cheesy as it may have been, our story is one we cherish very much. Through joy, hardship, growth, and pain, we have come a long way from the young teenagers back in 2019 to the faith-filled adults we are today. If you’re reading this, you have made some impact or mark on our lives either individually or collectively. Our story wouldn’t be our story without you — we love you!