In summer 2022, during our last week of camp, I met Robin Khoury at Oakridge Camp (my home and family’s ministry)! She had brought several kids from her school to camp that week for a session I was helping lead. After talking with Robin, I learned how many things we had in common - our faith, leading ministries, she had home educated her kids, mutual passion for art and so much more. On the last full day of the camps I coordinate for the year, when I was exhausted and just managing to soak in the magic of our final week, I walked into the camp dining hall for a hamburger and saw someone I didn’t recognize. I walked over to say hi and found out he was Robin’s son who had come to visit the camp for lunch. We laughed about some camp activity adventures he had witnessed and kept some conversation during lunch. He was great at asking questions and trying to connect, but I was super busy and kept needing to attend to campers and the schedule for the day.

Right away after he left, Chad friended me on social media and eventually responded to a story I posted about snow cones with the summer camp staff. From there he was regularly messaging me to say hi and ask how my day was going. He asked me if I would be interested in meeting up, to which I responded I still had so much to do for camp, starting my semester of seminary, family vacation, and that we could probably get together for a casual meet up when I was free… in like…three weeks!

He was so accommodating and patient with me in getting together, and kept making time to connect and check in with me while he waited. He even bought one of my paintings from my art instagram - certainly a way to my heart! ;)

Before meeting Chad, I had foolishly told myself that it would probably be best if I only dated people I had met in the past and known for some time, because the idea of meeting someone new, building trust and risking betrayal or disappointment was so intimidating. To be honest, at first I wasn’t entirely sure what to think of this city business boy who drove such a nice car, it could barely make it on our camp gravel roads (he had to park minutes away from my house because the Lexus couldn’t make it up haha).

Finally the day came where we could go to coffee. We had a great connection and stayed until the coffee shop closed - he brought me a book he had recommended and was super attentive throughout our time together. A while later after talking on the phone, playing Words with Friends, sending memes and texting a bunch, we finally made it to the day of our first date. Chad asked if I could come to OKC because there were more options for things to do…obviously. After arriving, we embarked on the most wonderful first date that completely won me over by the end of the night. We sat outside and listened to live music, then went to the Wheeler market where he bought me a hair pin, rode the Ferris Wheel, had dinner at Tellers (my first time!), went downstairs to the vault (I was amazed at how many people knew him everywhere we went), and then went to his office downtown to see the beautiful space he had designed (and let him make me a cup of coffee for the drive home). By the time I was supposed to leave, I was amazed to find that I didn’t really want to! He took me back to my car, and then surprised me with an amazing gift basket that was coffee themed, because at one point I had mentioned in passing that I needed to buy a new coffee grinder. The next morning I woke up and couldn’t stop smiling remembering how great the date was. I called my parents and told them all the details, just gushing over the fact that someone could plan such a perfect date for me.

The following months, we spent more and more time together. We went to great restaurants and bonded over our love for the arts (Chad’s bachelors degree is in music composition). He consistently exceeded my expectations with his thoughtfulness, creativity, adaptability, and intentionality in our relationship. We spent time with our families, made dinners and just savored the process of learning about one another. The first time he hung out with my siblings, I asked him to pick up cheese for a snack, and he once again exceeded expectations by designing an entire charcuterie board. When he finally asked me to be his girlfriend officially, he presented me with the most beautiful gold and diamond bracelet and a lock for us to etch and put on the scissortail bridge.

We had amazing dates, created special moments, began to really discover our similarities and differences, problem solved and grew our connection. We had the hard and necessary conversations, and I discovered one of my favorite things about Chad - he is AMAZING at tough conversations. Every time we had something serious to discuss or come to a resolution on, I would get so nervous and expect it to be stressful and escalate to a huge problem. To this day, I am still amazed at how he listens, compromises, apologizes if necessary, and finds a way forward. The holidays were magical, we loved celebrating Valentine’s day and our birthdays (he hired a magician for a private show for my birthday!!!). We had our first vacation with my family.

As we got closer to summer camp at Oakridge, where I need to be onsite six days a week for ten weeks of camp, I became nervous that it would be too much of a strain on our relationship. Chad again amazed me by showing up for chapel regularly, driving down to camp several times a week, helping me through the tough times, supporting my family, and showing me how we could make this work as a family ministering at summer camp.

I love that he is a family person, always encourages me to pray instead of worry, and is SO supportive of my ministry goals and artistic endeavors. We pray together every night, and the past year of watching him navigate life and business through God’s guidance has been such a blessing. I am thankful that after so many amazing years with friends and family as an unmarried woman, I have finally found Chad. He supports and serves me in more ways than I can say (sometimes I get embarrassed talking about how much he does for me, because he is truly just the best). I am so excited for a lifetime of adventures serving God together. I pray God uses us together to make a difference that is disproportionate to who we are on our own. We are better together!

Summer 2022. I had just arrived home from traveling when I received a call from my mom. She was at Oakridge summer camp with her ministry Little Light Christian School and was telling me about how much fun the kids were having and wanted me to come visit her there for lunch. Then she said “There’s also the cutest girl here who works with the camp named Jaime, I heard her speak last night and she was great! I think you’d really like her.” With a big eye roll I told her that I told her I would come to lunch to visit but don’t make it weird or anything cause I didn’t need to be set up and besides I was very busy at work so I wouldn’t be able to stay long.

When I got to lunch later in the week Jaime to my surprise walked up, introduced herself and even sat by me. She was beautiful and so kind. I was so struck by how effortless our conversation was even though it was brief. There was something different about her.

In an hour when I left I added her on social media so we could hopefully talk more. Not wanting to be a creep or overeager I resisted commenting on pics until one day I saw a picture about a snow cone stand and decided to comment which then led to us talking regularly as time allowed.

Not too long after, I got up the nerve to ask Jaime to coffee. She said yes! But it would be about a month or so after she was done traveling and had time etc. Of course, we continued talking and a week or so later I spontaneously asked her if she thought she might could meet up before she left town if I drove to Chickasha… She said yes! We decided on a local shop there that she liked called Viridian.

I was so nervous. I don’t know why – I don’t get nervous about most things (especially talking) but like I said this seemed different. I showed up to Viridian 20 minutes early so I could make sure I sat in just the right seat. After changing seats at least 3 times (the workers had to think I was a complete weirdo) I settled on a comfortable tale by the wall. The conversation was just wonderful, and I found myself thinking how much I enjoyed just sitting with her and discussing life. When the coffee shop finally kicked us out after closing time I realized that I didn’t want to leave without knowing I could see her again. So I once again mustered my courage and asked her if she would want to go on a date when she got back in town. She said yes!

The night of our first date was amazing. Even though I was super nervous (again), it was the most fun I’d had in years. Probably one of my favorite things about Jaime is how much fun we have together just laughing and talking, and it has been this way from the beginning. Many more dates followed, and our relationship definitely blossomed into full bloom.

In November before she traveled for Thanksgiving, I decided it was time to make our romance exclusive so she could officially say she had a “boyfriend”. (She had slipped and called me that a few times before ;) but I wanted it to be deliberate and intentional.) So on November 5th I asked if she would be my Girlfriend. She said yes!

After one of the best holiday and Christmas seasons ever (and much prayer), I decided that this was probably my forever person. There was only one thing left to see – how would we handle the stress of the summer camp season as a couple. While it wasn’t easy, the summer was much less difficult than I had expected! I enjoyed the time spent at camp and even learned to enjoy the drive to Anadarko as a time to relax and decompress from work. Coming out on the other side of August I knew that this was the right person and the right time. So on September 7th 2023 I asked Jaime to marry me - and – She said yes!!