We met through church and our young adult small group the beginning of Summer 2022. Lydia didn't really want to date anyone from small group and be "that person" who just joins a group to meet someone. But then Matt popped up! We both noticed each other and were interested in talking if there was an opportunity. Lydia planned a surprise party for a friend at the end of July and invited Matt, even though he really didn't know that specific friend very well (he was new to group, but Lydia took the opportunity haha!) Anyways, we talked that night and the rest is history. Matt asked Lydia to get brunch after church in September and we had a good time, even though we didn't initially consider it to be our "first date." Matt was late to coach his football game that day due to just talking and enjoying time together. The next day, Matt asked if he could call Lydia on the way home from his football practice and while she was on her way home from an evening school event. During that call and through nervous giggles, he asked Lydia out on a date the coming Friday. Our first official date was a hot balloon festival. About a month after our first date, we went out again and just talked at Pinnacle Overlook for about three hours following dinner. After that date, we went out a few more times and then made it official on November 8th.

Shortly after starting to date, we met family for the holidays - we actually met both sets of parents over the same weekend! Both of us quickly came to love the other's family. Matt is the youngest of four and Lydia is the oldest of four, so we had very different outlooks on what sibling relations looked like. For Christmas, Matt had the creative idea to get Lydia Broadway tickets in order to spend the full day in NYC together - our first day trip together! That day was the best day and was the turning point in our conversations and intention of dating. We talked all the time, about everything from our faith to family to just being silly with each other. Following this day, we loved to use conversation cards and games in order to continue intentional conversations with each other (we highly recommend "We're Not Strangers: Couple's Edition")! A few months later, after countless hours of talking and being with each other, we started talking about moving to the next stage of life together - engagement and marriage. It was a really easy choice, to want to spend the rest of our lives together. The Lord has been the root of our relationship - from meeting at church, serving together, and starting another young adult community group as a couple. We love seeing the Lord work, whether together or separately, and desire to have him lead us in our marriage.