Yesterday me and my husband woke up in time to shower and make coffee before heading to church. We worshipped, listened, and fellowshipped with the body of Christ. Came home to eat lunch and gather things together to go paddleboarding. We got to the local reservoir that’s about 1/2 hour from our house and soon was out on the water. We enjoyed the sunshine, the waves, and avoiding the jet skiers who were all over the place. As we finished up, my dad facetimed me and we talked to him (and my mom) as we drove back to town. We grabbed food from our favorite local burger place before heading home. I cut his hair and we prepped for the following week. We paid off one of my student loans and talked about upcoming plans for the month. Then we prayed and thanked God for all our blessings before falling asleep in each other’s arms.
What a simple day that was oh so sweet. We had discussions about future homes and talked about how we want to parent. We giggled at silly jokes, we flirted like crazy, and made goals for the future. Nothing too crazy but it was a good day.
How a year can change things.
July 5th, 2025
I had spent most of the day before with my Bible study leader. We had made stuffed mushrooms and took them to a 4th of July BBQ. I woke up the next day tired, and nervously excited. We had made plans earlier that week to meet up for coffee because he offered to be a listening ear and I needed to process things from my recent car crash. So that Saturday, I woke up earlier then I wanted and got ready. I wasn’t sure what this was, so I assumed it was just a hang-out—”if you don’t define it, its not a date” I kept repeating to myself even as I did mascara and put on a nice casual outfit. He texted offering to pick me up and I agreed so that I didn’t have to drive my rental car.
He texted he was there and I met him at his car before he could go up to my apartment, and he drove us to the coffeeshop. I knew he didn’t like coffee but he had offered coffee so I shoved the feelings of guilt aside. He paid for my coffee and I got more nervous. We waited in the coffee shop for my caramel macchiato and his tea to finish up and he laughed at my wearing a shirt with a chicken on it because he was allergic to chicken; I had hoped he would find it funny. We left the shop with our drinks and I directed him to the local riverside park. I told him I knew a spot.
I took him to my favorite spot right by the river, secluded from the path by bushes and trees, hoping it was the right call. He laid out the blanket he brought, and we sat there talking. My poetry book was brought up and he again asked me to send him the link so he could get it, I instead pulled from my purse the copy I had brought for him with a signed note in the front cover. I had felt like I needed to give it to him even though I didn’t want to as it felt very vulnerable.
He leaned back, and said, “A girl from Idaho who’s a self-proclaimed country bumpkin told me once to be bold, so I’m going to be bold.” I blushed as I knew immediately where this was going and that he was taking the advice I had gave him weeks earlier unknowing who he was crushing on. He went on to tell me that he liked me and wanted permission to pursue me and to get to know me more. He said he wasn’t asking me to be his girlfriend just for us to go on dates and see where God led this. I gave him permission.
We spent the rest of the day with him talking and asking a million questions and me answering the questions still in shock that this had even happened. I had hoped he liked me, but I didn’t expect everything to happen the way it did. We accidentally stayed by the river until late afternoon as neither of us wanted to say goodbye (and didn’t happen to have any other plans for the day). He took me out for Indian food as he felt bad, he starved me all day and then I asked if he wanted to watch the sunset.
We drove to the top of my campus and sat in the back of his 4runner watching the sunset and continuing to talk. We set expectations and boundaries, and we prayed for God’s guidance and peace. I went to bed that night excited and full of gratitude.
Both of us had no idea that a year from then our life would have changed so drastically. But I believe both of us would have been so excited to know that the relationship we began on that first not-date coffee date would end up where we are now. What a testament to trusting God’s timing, and the power that things can change so quickly in such amazing ways.
God is so good.
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