Jacob and I met at Penn State through our small group at church. One day, I asked the group chat if anyone was going to the upcoming hockey game, and he said he and a friend were. My friend at the time and I decided to meet up with them, and looking back, that simple decision was the beginning of everything.

The four of us started hanging out a lot after that, and as Jacob and I spent more time together, the first thing we truly bonded over was our love for Jesus. Our conversations about faith, church, and what God was doing in our lives drew us close, long before anything else did. We realized we shared the same values, the same desire to grow, and the same joy in following Him.

Somewhere in the middle of all those conversations, we also found out we both enjoyed listening to Zach Bryan. When we heard he had a concert coming up that spring, I bought tickets for us and a few friends. We had only met that fall, but by the time the concert came around in late May, we were already talking all the time and getting to know each other more deeply.

After junior year ended, talking to each other became part of our everyday life. Nothing about it felt forced. It just felt right. In July, we officially started dating, and it felt like stepping into something God had been gently preparing our hearts for.

We had one semester together on campus before he graduated early. Since January 2024, we've been long-distance. It hasn't always been easy, but it has made our relationship stronger and brought us even closer to God. Long distance has taught us how to communicate, how to trust, and how to be intentional with the time we do spend together.

Some of our favorite things to do together are going to Penn State hockey and football games, going to concerts, spending time outdoors, going to church, and reading our Bibles together. We also love simple nights in, playing card games, and just being present with one another.

From the beginning, our story has been guided by Jesus in how we met, how our friendship grew, and how our relationship has deepened. We're grateful for the way He brought us together, and we're excited for everything He has planned for our future.