The story of how we met is very Gen Z, but it's proof that God is creative and his plan is always better than our own. In March of 2020—my senior year in high school, right before quarantine hit—I was on the heels of a high-school breakup and definitely not looking to date anyone. Stuck at home, scrolling through TikTok, I stumbled across a video of a REALLY cute boy. He'd tagged his location as somewhere in Georgia, so I followed him on TikTok and Instagram, hoping he'd notice me—never thinking I'd talk to him. (Unbeknownst to me, Ben was going to one day be my husband!)

He ended up DM-ing me, so we began texting. That progressed to FaceTime and nightly phone calls. I began praying that if this relationship went any further, God would one day make this boy my husband, because I didn't want to go through another heartbreak again! We were developing a connection deeper than any I'd ever experienced. I told my mom that I'd met a boy who lived an hour away and wanted to meet him in person.

So just a week and a half after "meeting" on TikTok—we met up in person. The moment we were face to face, I was head over heels. What was supposed to be just a few hours of hanging out turned into 12 hours of getting Starbucks, giving him a tour of my hometown, and talking nonstop as I drove him around. (At this point, Ben still did not have his license!) Our connection was effortless and we laughed the whole time. We even had dinner with my family that night.

Six years later, here we are, planning our wedding. Ben and I literally grew up together. What started as two clueless high-school kids—learning how to do life and making plenty of dumb mistakes—turned into a journey of grace and refinement for both of us. We made it through long-distance, the successful start of my business, and Ben's firefighter training. He landed a spot with Alpharetta's fire department and moved within walking distance of my apartment in Roswell! It was clear that God was paving the way to us being together.

I still get butterflies whenever I see Ben and feel blessed to call him my soon-to-be husband. Our relationship is proof that with God at the foundation, you can overcome anything. I've watched a boy turn into a man and a spiritual leader worth following. He makes me a better version of myself. Patience, wisdom, strength, and humility pour out of him. I can't wait to take his name and see what else God has in store for us!

I was pretty lonely as I approached my final high school years. Sure, I'd made a couple friends, but my connection to the outside world felt destroyed after escaping the Paradise, California wildfire. My family lost everything, and we were once again changing homes.

To cope, I put myself out there on social media. People were following me and seemed to enjoy what I put online, which created a sense of purpose and friendship. Still, it wasn’t quite what I was looking for.

March 20th, 2020: I get a follow on TikTok, and the same account follows me on Instagram. I think, Usually I just get followed on one... hmm. When I tap the notification, I see the most beautiful girl. I'm stunned by her profile and notice she's in Georgia like me. No way can I pass up the opportunity—I wouldn’t forgive myself if I did. So I send the infamous DM.

Our conversations are burning through phone batteries from talking all night, falling asleep without hanging up. We plan to meet, and I assure her that I'm not a crazy, axe-swinging murderer. My brother drives me to Atlanta to meet this girl. I remember being embarrassed about what I'd chosen to wear when I saw just how gorgeous she was in person. She was—and still is—so out of my league. I never expected to spend an entire day together. I talked more with her than anyone I'd met since moving to Georgia.

I'm aware that ours is a very modern-day love story. Nevertheless, it's amazing how God works, putting people into your life right when you need them. The connection I'd been seeking was just around the bend. Little did I know, this gorgeous girl would become my bride. It was all a part of healing and learning. We both had vastly different lives, pasts, and outlooks. These differences curated a very special bond, helping us grow as trust became solid. Without a doubt, I needed Ruby much more than she needed me.

Being cared for by someone like Ruby opens your eyes. It certainly gave me direction, purpose, and the ability to understand my goals in life. She held me up and pushed me as far as I could go. Knowing her for just one day gave me a lifetime of support that I couldn't have found anywhere else. She was an angel on earth. She still is.

I thank God every day for how she empowers me to be a strong leader. Our love for the Lord and appreciation for the path he sets before us grows deeper every day. Being able to sit in silence with somebody, perfectly content, and then talk theology until you’re supposed to leave for work is pretty rare. It’s uncommon, I think, to find your soulmate. I’m very sure I was brought to mine. I could spend forever speaking about my love for her, but I’m afraid I would die before I ran out of words.