We both attended Mississippi College and knew of each other, but hadn’t actually met until I was moving out of my dorm after my sophomore year — just after he had graduated. Though I didn’t know him at all, I knew we’d be spending the entire summer together (more on that to come), so I asked him if I could use his truck to move all of my belongings into storage. He joyfully obliged, and not only did he help me (an absolute stranger), he also brought over several of his Civitan brothers to help carry things, and if I recall correctly, I didn’t lift a single thing. I really appreciated his help and his person, but nothing more crossed my mind at this time. Fast forward a few weeks, and we’re in Athens, Greece for a summer internship with a nonprofit dear to our hearts, The Hard Places Community. Travis and I shared a tiny intern apartment with 10+ other humans, where we shared meals and stories, drank tea together, did the dishes together, served in the city together, and had lots of late night laughs and a few tears here and there. We got to know each other really well, and I always wanted to be around him. If we were splitting up in groups to serve, I tried my darndest to be wherever he was, and I didn’t even know why. I was just so drawn to him — to his fear of God, his humor, his knowledge of the world, his servanthood, and even his stubborn confidence at times. I felt so safe with him. My journal that summer saw his name OFTEN. Even with all of these things considered, I still didn’t consider the possibility of dating him (1. We were under contract while interning, and 2. He had just graduated and was about to move to another state for grad school). So the summer wraps up, and our director Kimmy appointed the two of us to share the story of our summer ministry with local organizations (she knew exactly what she was doing). This gave us a reason to keep in touch, and one weekend while Travis was visiting MC to share with organizations on campus, he asked me on a date. I didn’t think twice, and immediately had so much peace about it. We went on our first date and talked for hours, and I knew I wanted to have tea and talk with him for a long, long time. Now, nearly 4 years later, our God has sustained us through so many whirlwinds of change, both in the world and within ourselves. We’ve seen abundant joy, deep sorrow, times of great anxiety, times of fruitful growth, undoing and rebuilding, and we have been carried along by the grace of God and lots of hard work. We like the symbol of the garden (and we’ve got lots of stories to tell you on this matter), 1.) because we long and hope for our glorious redemption in Christ, when all things are returned to the peace and wholeness of the Garden, and 2.) while it is necessary to sow, water, reap, and do hard work to take care of our relationship, ultimately it is God who causes the increase. Praise Him! I am filled with joy thinking about how we get to move forward and grow eternal gardens together as husband and wife!