“Trust in the Lord with all your heart…” Proverbs 3:5-6

12/2021 Matthew started coming to the same small group as Melissa. She took one look at him and said to herself, “Never in a million years.” 6/2022 Matthew decided to volunteer for VBS. That was when he decided that Melissa was kind of cool and he maybe wanted to get to know her better. Melissa had a hunch that he might think she was kind of cool, but she was like, “Nope.” Winter/Spring ‘23 Matthew was interested from a distance. They began to get to know each other better through their small group. Melissa started thinking, “Hmm. Maybe.” She was praying a lot about him, but told no one. 5/2023 After small group one evening, Colt invited a group to learn a partners card game called Euchre. Neither Matthew nor Melissa had played before, but they bonded over their mutual confusion of that game with Pinochle (yes, we know that neither of those game names mean anything to our general audience). The next time Colt invited a group to play Euchre, Matthew and Melissa ended up being partners… And they crushed their competition. That was when Matthew decided that Melissa was more that kind of cool. And Melissa realized that Matthew was more than ok. 6/2023 Matthew was the first person to sign up to help with VBS. Points scored. Melissa was impressed and became more interested. But she figured Matthew didn’t think he had a chance. She was right. She tried to be friendly and open toward him. Matthew was glad for any opportunity to talk to Melissa. 7/2023 Matthew and Melissa consistently talked to each other with the help of their mutual friends, the Bensons. They became more interested in each other. They also went hiking and boating together with their small group. But toward the end of summer Melissa started second guessing EVERYTHING…. She gave Matthew an icy shoulder for several weeks. She was miserable the whole time. Matthew was also miserable and terribly confused, yet not deterred. Patrick encouraged him to continue pursuing Melissa. And Rosanna and Cassi encouraged Melissa to continue to be open. Melissa kept seeking the Lord and asking His direction. So did Matthew. 8/2023 After a frigid summer, Matthew believed the Lord was leading him to ask Melissa out. So after Wednesday service, he told her he liked her and wanted to take her to coffee. She said, “Thank you. But I am enjoying getting to know you in groups.” Then she ran away. But Melissa felt from the Lord that she was supposed to stay open. 9/2023 In seeking the Lord and asking for help from mentors and friends, Melissa started responding more warmly toward Matthew. It appeared that the icy summer might be thawing. They spent time together at the Bensons’ house, at small group, and at church. Matthew requested to text Melissa and she agreed. She found herself enjoying their interactions. At the end of the month she asked him if his offer for coffee was still available. He heartily agreed to take her to Starbucks the next morning. 10/2023 Melissa and Matthew continued to go out with each other. Though they were having fun together, Melissa wasn’t sure about it until later in the month when Matthew shared some things the Lord had showed him about their relationship. It was exactly what Melissa had been praying. Melissa thought the Lord had read her journal to Matthew… It was evident to her that Matthew listened to the Lord. She started letting down some of her walls. 11/2023 (A million years later…) Melissa finally confessed to Matthew that she liked him back. And after going to a family get-together with Melissa’s family, Matthew asked Melissa if he could court her and she said yes. Winter/Spring 2024 Matthew and Melissa spent time together with friends and family. They found they shared many similar values and family background. Their mutual love for the Lord and His church kept drawing them closer. 4/2024 Matthew and Melissa walked up to the Crestview/Itani water tower one sunny Sunday afternoon. He got down on one knee and asked her to marry him and she said, “Yes!”