Josh enrolled in the fall for his first semester at Midwestern Seminary in Kansas City, MO having just moved there from Tennessee. I had lived in Kansas City for 5 years and had been at the undergrad school for Midwestern for some time, but I was ready to say goodbye very soon. I had signed up for Church History 1 Class-a subject I had become most interested in. Josh is a Church History major, and confidently answered questions often when no one else would or else prompted by the professor. Most often he knew the answer-even with seemingly odd or off topic questions. It was obvious he had a thorough education previously and I had never seen him before. He was also strong, confident, humble, respectful, kind, and anything but passive. He conversed on theological issues easily and in a way that turned my head. Out of 50 people in our class, Josh stood out to me. At the time I had been trying to keep my head down since I knew I was on my way out of the school soon and had plenty of obligations and relationships keeping me busy including a full-time job. I had no interest in creating new ones. But I had to meet this man so one day after class I introduced myself to him in the hallway. He was wearing his navy blue suit jacket that day. We shook hands, and I asked him where he had learned so much church history. He explained to me History was one of his undergrad majors in college. I heard he was from Tennessee, and this made me smile. A fellow Southerner. His boots and drawl made me feel more connected to him than most of the people around me giving him immediate favor with me. But our conversation was incredibly brief lasting not more than 2 minutes. I pulled myself away and continued with my life.

Where was I? Oh yes, As I was saying I was continuing to study and go to and from class each week. During that time another Christian man invited me to a KC Royals ball game with him. Soon we began seeing one another. The relationship lasted all of a month and a half-my first boyfriend. Dating was a horrible idea I had decided after "trying it out" for the first time with that man. I loathed the process. One evening in particular I remember this Christian man taking me to the most expensive restaurant in Kansas City where we discussed over dinner if we should continue the relationship. Not fun. That night I woke up and vomited up all of the delicious, expensive food I had eaten. Food poisoning. The next morning, I awoke and put on a long blue dress to comfort myself regarding my pale, weak appearance. There wasn't energy to even put on mascara. I gathered myself and weakly made my way to Church History Class where I sat hoping to not be noticed. Josh, however, noticed me. In fact, he came up to me after the three hour long lecture where I had numbly avoided the topics being presented and mulled over the pros and cons of leaving the relationship that I found myself in. "What are your plans for this evening?" Josh asked cheerfully. 'Oh no,' I thought, 'I know where this is going.' (You must remember I was already in a relationship and had a dismal outlook on the whole dating thing.) It was Wednesday so I answered truthfully that I was planning to go to my church's prayer meeting. Josh engaged me regarding my church. We both delighted to hear that we each attended churches of the Reformed tradition. Josh graciously asked, "Would you like to join me in the library to study this afternoon before church?" A light ask. No big commitments. Just time to talk. He asked so graciously and so confidently that I felt honored. But, of course, I was dating someone else. Not wanting that to scare him away, but looking for an escape route I said, "I actually need to go grocery shopping this afternoon and do my laundry." An awkward hesitation followed. Then I found my escape route-a set of double doors leading in the opposite direction of Josh. "Maybe next time, " I blurted out with immediate regret in the case that things worked out with the boyfriend. Josh smiled, "Maybe next time!" he said as I opened the doors and made my narrow escape. A smile crawled onto my face as I left remembering the way he asked. I thought I had gotten all the way through the double doors before it had appeared, but apparently Josh caught the start of it. He thought of that smile every day for three weeks. In fact, Josh sought to find me around campus during those three weeks, including attending extra chapel services, but I was no where to be found. Those three weeks we didn't see one another due to class breaks and cancellations for various reasons. During that time I did many things keeping me from campus including breaking up with my first boyfriend. The first day back to class Josh waited outside the door to catch me coming out from lecture. I had hoped he would be. Without saying anything else Josh asked, "Would you like to join me in the library this afternoon?" Josh's presence and him waiting at the door for me made me nervous all of a sudden. I managed out truthfully, "I actually just broke up with someone and need some time to work through that." "By all means, take all the time you need." Now it was Josh's turn to make an immediate escape. I smiled without him seeing it this time and went on my way with a heavy heart thinking of my previous relationship. By the next week, however, it seemed to me that I was ready to talk to Josh. Josh, however, did not ask me out after class. To my surprise I was disappointed. The week following Josh didn't ask me again. Again, I felt slight regret instead of relief. Telling myself it was fine, and that I had plans to flee Kansas City anyway I determined to ignore it all.

But Josh had intrigued me. His character and personality had attracted me and then he had began a pursuit of me. These thoughts passed through my mind as a I stood in the hallway outside of the lecture hall of class, Josh walking my way. I smiled at him, but he kept walking. 'Maybe he's waiting for me to tell him I'm ready to talk to him.' Suddenly I found myself striking up conversation. Josh stopped and answered my question looking confused. We continued talking for the rest of the afternoon after class. Josh had apparently assumed that my "I-need-time-to get-over-someone"-bit was all a coy to let him down easy. He had been greatly disappointed and had tried avoiding me respectfully the weeks following. Looking back we laugh and smile at God's providence, thankful we did not after all pass like ships in the night. Only what God wills will come to pass. Soon it became obvious that we were made for each other. Josh took me to Loose Park on November 5th, 2023. There we walked around and talked for hours. We sat on benches in the rose garden and at the lake admiring the geese. It was on November 5th that I realized that Josh was not like the other guys who had pursued me in the past. Of course, at that point Josh was practically committed for life, but I had much more thinking and praying to do. Josh and I discussed at length many points of theology, worldview, beliefs, thoughts regarding roles in the home, the church, and the community at large. We shared our testimonies; and we made clear life expectations and emphases. We stated our beliefs regarding love as defined biblically and not according to human emotion. We did a lot of talking in the early days let's just say that. After two weeks of this, I told Josh I was willing to be in a relationship with him. He immediately called my father to ask for permission to date me with intention. In December prior to Christmas after spending time with my family Josh asked my father for my hand in marriage. My father gave his blessing! Josh and I began planning various wedding details although we did not have the ring. During dating we both delighted to find the other convinced that long seasons of engagement did not make sense in light of biblical wisdom. Out of necessity we set a date for May 6th! It was also during December that I moved back to Kentucky (where I am from) to be near my family.

On January 27th Josh and I met halfway in St Louis for a day long date. He instructed me to wear a pretty dress and meet him at Forrest Park (the prettiest park in the nation!). I anticipated it very much hoping he would offer me a ring. He did! Taking me to the Great Emerson Basin overlooked by the St Louis Art Museum and a large state of Saint Louis himself, Josh got down on one knee and asked me, "Katie. Will you marry me?" Of course, I said "Yes!"-but only after getting over the catch in my throat! We can't believe all God has done in our lives!! (Photos of these events is in our gallery. You can click on the photos to reveal their captions).

It is with great joy that we look forward to our wedding day! We cannot wait to celebrate and want YOU to be there!! Please consider coming and celebrating with us what God has done in bringing Josh and I together!! Please, pray for us!