We met three years ago when I went to Louisiana to visit a mutual friend of ours. At first, I didn't think anything of it because he was so shy and quiet. Time went on as we would occasionally cross paths. Our parents became fast friends leading us to make more trips back and forth from Lindale to Shreveport for visits. I'm sad to say it took a whole year for me to slowly approach Tory and pursue a stronger friendship with him. While he, on the other hand, had a year to observe me and my shenanigans. After talking for a while, I knew some point soon he was going to ask me on a date. I began to assemble a list. In this list, I rambled out all my downfalls and unpopular beliefs; it was everything that would send a man running for the hills. "I don't believe in dating. However, we should definitely court ... We are long-distance; how will we make this work? If we do get married, we are definitely waiting a year before having a child. ... I don't believe in celebrating Christmas, but your family does. How would we work around this? ... I'm still new to cooking, but I can make good Brussel sprouts ... Oh, and I don't believe in kissing before marriage..." As I said, most would run and never look back... However, he didn't. On October 8th 2019, after getting back from a gospel meeting, once I finished rambling off my list, I nervously looked at him and reintroduced myself. "Hi, I'm Melody. This is who I am and the baggage I come with... Are you still sure you want to start this?" He took my hands into his own, looked me straight in the eye, and said, "It would be an honor to go on this adventure with you." What an adventure it has been, and to think that was just the prologue. The Lord truly does work in mysterious ways! We've been blest beyond measure and would like to thank our families and friends for their constant support.