Katherine's Perspective,

I had decided it was time to settle down and find love once and for all. I had prayed for months, asking God to open doors for me to meet the person He had intended for me.

I was based in Fort Worth, Texas, raising my children and attending junior college. I planned a summer trip to Wichita, Kansas, living with family to work before returning to Texas for my education program at Texas Tech University. I had an inkling from God that I would find my soulmate in Wichita that summer. I was super excited and researched all the bible studies, young adult Christian events, and young adult groups in Wichita. I did not feel it was the right direction God wanted me to look into, so I stopped trying to micromanage where I would find my future husband.

After lots of prayer, days before arriving in Wichita, God highlighted dating apps to me. I was taken aback because I was very against dating apps. I did not like the general culture behind them. I wanted to find someone through an organic, Christian-based environment. I did not think I would find a God-loving man through a dating app.

The day I arrived in Wichita was the day I activated my dating profile. I followed what I thought God was suggesting and was upfront about my values on "Hinge." That same day was the day Lukas liked my profile. I clicked on his profile, and he immediately sparked my interest. From just his profile, I could see his values aligned with mine; he was based in Texas (even though we were both visiting Wichita at the time), I saw he graduated from Texas Tech (the university I had just started), and I thought he was absolutely gorgeous.

Even though he liked my profile first, I messaged him first. I had said, "Howdy fellow Red Raider *insert cowboy emoji*" I look back now at what I said and cringe. However, Lukas claims it was endearing. I was just excited to meet a person who went to my dream university.

He didn't respond for a day and I was very disappointed. I guess I got my revenge and declined his multiple attempts to take me on a date. I was extremely nervous and I thought he was too good to be true. Before I would meet him in person I explained that I was not looking to date around or looking for something fun. I explained to him that I was looking for love and something that would turn into a strong God-centered marriage. I also revealed to him before I agreed to meet that I was a single mom to two littles. I thought for sure he would run. In his words he told me that he wanted to still pursue something, because he had a "gut feeling".

I was still too nervous to go on a typical date, so I told him if he really wanted to meet me he would have to meet me at the YMCA in Wichita on the Wichita State University campus. It was nearly a week into solely texting that we met in person. When he arrived at the YMCA he asked where I was. If you know me, you know that I am going to make things complicated. I told Lukas he had to find me. With multiple stories, gymnasiums, workout areas, and study spots- I thought for sure it would take him a while to find me. It only took him a few minutes, and he claims he went straight to me. Almost like he knew exactly where my heart was.

Including the day we met in person, Lukas only had six days left in Wichita. He was there for military training. Five of those six days, we met in person and talked about our life stories and what we wanted out of life. It was hard to say goodbye to him, but my gratefulness to have met him overpowered my sadness. We had a distance relationship for a month while I was still in Kansas and he went back to Texas. We talked every day for hours and around that time was when Lukas began talking (I am kidding, but he was very shy in the beginning).

My teaching program placement through Texas Tech University was less than an hour and a half away from his home. The day after I came back to Texas, we were inseparable. It felt like everything fell into place from the moment that God had suggested Wichita may be the place where I would find my love. I like to say that we had an arranged marriage set up by God. It felt easy to find Lukas, easy to spend time with him, easy to implement our lives together, and easy to love him.

Luke's Perspective:

She was pretty and seemed to be into me back.

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