For those wanting to see more JD & Kristin photos, check out this Google Photos Album we put together for you :)
photos.app.goo.gl/JGr8zxnNH34uk25S9


FROM JD:
As with many young adults these days, I was trying to meet single women via online dating apps. Things weren’t really working out that well — I had quite a few Tinder dates that didn’t go well. Seeing an ad on Facebook, I downloaded the Coffee Meets Bagel app, and liked it because it seemed serious about matching people to start long-term relationships. I also liked that I could set my preference for Christian girls, which was a deal breaker for me.

When I matched with Kristin, we had only exchanged a few messages before I asked if she would like to meet up. I am awful at conversing via text message, so I wanted to meet in person before I blew it. Also, after many failed dinner dates (I’m a messy eater), I wanted to do something fun for a first date. I asked her if she had any ideas of what to do.

Kristin had her own agenda, though. She didn’t want to meet someone until she had vetted them thoroughly. After I asked to meet up, she started asking the real deep questions, like “where do you see yourself in 5 years?” I told her that I would probably be on a different team and that I would be married. So far, both of those are coming true! I guess I passed her test because she agreed to go out with me.

Kristin had the wonderful idea to meet at a pinball bar for our first date. I had a blast, and didn’t embarrass myself too badly (I did spill a drink, but we cleaned it up). We both wanted to go on a second date, so we did a triple date with us, Scott & Tarah, and Sara & Kevin to play trivia at a bar. Everyone got along, and it was fun!

Kristin was great about coming up with fun activities for us to do. She’s definitely a planner, and I’m happy to do whatever. We went to movies at cool theaters, plays, concerts, festivals, etc. The date that really hooked me was when she made me dinner at her apartment and played “Hallelujah” on the piano.

Having not been in a relationship that lasted longer than a few months, I was getting nervous when we hit the 6 month mark and the 1-year mark. I wanted to be intentional about the relationship and make sure we were right for each other. But with Kristin, there is very little cause for concern, and she is such a caring person, I could not help but fall in love with her. We have grown a lot together, and are both looking forward to spending the rest of our lives together.
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FROM KRISTIN:
After our first date, JD left for a trip home to Atlanta for over a week and I remember thinking I wasn’t going to “bother” him and would just see what happened. (Meaning not playing hard to get, but not pursuing him either) I was excited when I heard from him asking about my weekend and it helped spark my interest in him. After a series of clever well planned dates by yours truly, we were still going steady yet JD had not made a move. I knew it was time to pull out the "big guns"... my slightly above average cooking skills and musical talents (piano/singing). It paid off because I finally got my first goodnight kiss from him!

From there we quickly grew close, going to various Christmas festivities together, spending Christmas day together, then taking weekend excursions to Deception Pass or Portland. JD was always game for an adventure, and would go tit for tat on questions, never shying away from all of my relationship/life questions. He was willing to answer my 5 year plan question before our first date, discuss our love languages (which he actually brought up at the same time as me!), do the "36 questions that lead to love", and take a pre-engagement class through my old church. We were both serious about finding a lifelong partner that was aligned on morals and values, our faith, and our goals in life. We wanted to nurture our relationship to build a strong foundation, taking our time to ensure we found our forever person.

We have shared hobbies with each other (sailing, hiking, volleyball/husker volleyball) and have traveled together to more places than I can count! (weddings to Las Vegas and Buffalo, vacations to Hawaii and Thailand, work trip to Munich, Germany, etc). And with each new experience, our love for each other has grown deeper and stronger.

I love that JD is thoughtful, open to any idea, goofy and weird, but also brilliant. I love him so much that it hurts sometimes. I’m so excited to start our life together as a married couple and cannot wait for all of our adventures yet to come.