Like many modern couples, I met Adam by swiping right. (Translation - we met online.) The DC dating pool is full of suits, investment portfolios, and ladder climbing... but the Adam I found online actually looked like he had a personality. He baked cakes and played drums! I wondered if I had found a needle in a haystack. Soon after we matched, we made a date to have dinner at a restaurant called Sisters Thai. To make a long story short -- I didn't feel the love. Adam was perfectly kind and thoughtful, but my first impression of him was that he was very shy. I was not interested and decided to save both of us the trouble and move on. The next day, I sent a message to thank him for his time and explain that it wasn't a match. I assumed he would blow off my rejection and I would never hear from him again. To my surprise, he graciously accepted the news and wished me the best. He also sent his phone number and offered to be a friend, since we were both new to the city. I was touched and wondered if I should reconsider, but I decided to go with my gut. After the last message, I put down my phone without saving his number and didn't think about Adam Downie again. I spent the rest of the year traveling, making friends, and dating other people. God also was pruning me intensely and cultivating a vibrant relationship with me. During this time, I felt a strong impression to pray specifically that I would begin dating my spouse in January 2023. Never in my life had I prayed such a prayer - in fact throughout my twenties I repeatedly prayed for more time to be single. However, I had a sense that there was a new season of life in store - but God wanted me to trust that he would bring it to me, instead of me searching for it. I prayed in faith and completely stopped dating. On January 3, 2023 I was eating pancakes with my family in Maui, Hawaii when my phone buzzed. It was a Happy New Year message from a number I didn't recognize. I ignored it at first and focused on my family. But after a couple of moments, curiosity got the best of me. I responded sheepishly with "Sorry.. who is this?" It was Adam Downie. He reminded me of our Thai food date and I was immediately intrigued as to why this guy would reach back out after a year. Not too long after he got in touch, we met up for a date in the National Portrait Gallery. This Adam was different than the Adam I had met over Thai food. This Adam was silly and confident. I was charmed by the way he nerded-out over a model car exhibit and I loved how he described his family. We spent most of the time laughing and by the time the museum was closing, we had walked around the whole thing twice. Within our first thirty minutes together, I had already decided that I wanted to see him again. Over the next two months, we saw each other multiple times a week- taking in all that DC and Northern Virginia had to offer - museums, parks, beaches, and monuments. It was a dream. One night, just a couple months into dating, Adam very adamantly told me that he wanted to marry me. I was surprised by his bold words, but not at all scared. I knew that we were onto something good. Just a few months after that, Adam took me to Great Falls National Park in Virginia. We ate Jimmy John's sandwiches on a rock overlooking the river and then stood up to dance. Moments later, he was down on one knee, holding up a ring. It was the easiest yes I've ever said. My closest friends would tell you that I agonize over big life decisions. But by the grace of God, deciding to marry Adam has been one of the easiest processes of my life. It is so obvious to me that he came back into my life at exactly the right moment. So much of my readiness has come from God winnowing my heart during that year that we were apart. He took away the useless pieces that prevented me from making a commitment like this and prepared me to meet Adam again. It is a joy to love Adam and I look forward to being his wife.

In August of 2021, I moved to Arlington, Virginia for a new job. I wasn’t all too fond of the area, but I made the most of what I had and where I was placed. I walked with the Lord and believed that he is always steady, faithful and good through every part of my life, even when it was shifting in all sorts of directions, all at various seasons. I was a single guy moving to a busy area near Washington DC. The intensity of the city was daunting and I was feeling a little indifferent about trying to date in this area. I wanted to be in a relationship, but did not know where to begin or how to adapt to the fast and intense culture. This intensity also carried into the dating world, so I didn’t know where to begin. I felt very repelled by the idea of dating apps and any online dating services. However, long story short, a friend from work who felt similarly about dating apps told me to just try it and put myself out there. What could happen, right? Ha-ha! After some time I came across the profile of a girl named Bethany Peevy. She looked fun, she was very pretty, and I was very intrigued by her. We ended up matching on the app and started chatting. I admired all our conversations, her interest in learning about who I was, and her outlook on life. I especially liked how Bethany talked about her family and her walk with God… both are things I admire immensely. Bethany also had a miraculous sense of humor, which has exponentially increased over the time of our dating and engagement. Let me tell you, I can’t get enough of it. Not too long after the match we decided that we both wanted to meet in person. The first date took place on February 16th, 2022 at a Thai restaurant in Alexandria, Virginia called Sisters Thai. During the date I was very shy and reserved, but I loved talking to Bethany. She left the most wonderful impression on me. I had the feeling that I had met someone very special that day, but I didn’t know what was ahead. The next day I asked Bethany out for a second date, but she said no. We exchanged numbers and we agreed on the idea of occasionally meeting as friends if time allowed, since we were both new to the area. Ironically, we didn’t talk for about a year, however I did think about Bethany often. Though I did not know where she was or what she was doing, I prayed for her. I also prayed into where I should be and what I should be doing with my life. In the month of January, I often text some friends to wish them a Happy New Year and to check on how they are doing. Bethany was on my mind, so I reached out to her for the first time in a whole year. She responded with, ‘Sorry, who is this?’, and I realized she hadn’t saved my number, which I thought was funny both then and now. We started talking regularly and in less than a week, Bethany asked if I wanted to meet again, whether or not there was romantic interest. I said ‘yes’ without a moment of hesitation. That was a day I will never forget. From then on, our dates consisted of museums, the beach, eating and cooking food, long walks during the day and night, and water-color painting. For most of May, Bethany traveled to England. While she was away, I bought a ring and was ready to propose. The day after she returned, I took her to Great Falls, Virginia to ask her to marry me. It was very early on that I knew I wanted to marry Bethany and I’ve loved taking every step with her towards that. January 10th, 2023 was the day I started dating my best friend; the woman I get to spend the rest of my life with. There is nothing I have been more excited for. I pray each day that I will love her well and that we will always love the Lord together. Bethany Peevy has taught me so much about what it means to love and follow the Lord in an authentic manner. Bethany is kind in heart, passionate in life, devoted without question, and I always feel truly loved by her. Her character is noble and she speaks with wisdom. Moments with her I treasure dearly. I love Bethany Peevy.