This story begins on Instagram with a bunch of strangers. The goofy group chat of mutual internet friends started on May 18th, 2019, everyone unaware that it would eventually lead to something much deeper. A year later, Joe and Danielle both started to realize that their feelings for each other were growing. They took care of each other emotionally and got to know each other on a deep level as friends. After several hints that Danielle didn’t pick up on, it wasn’t until August 30th, 2020 that Joe took the brave step of sending her a love letter in the form of a long email, pouring his heart out into beautiful, honest words. The next morning, Danielle responded with another letter, telling Joe that she loved him too.
For the next couple of months, their relationship was mild, the same deep platonic love they had before. They weren’t ready to fully admit romantic love yet, so they kept it a secret and let their bond evolve gradually. On June 20th, 2021, on a road trip to South Carolina, Danielle introduced her family to Joe’s during a visit in Texas, and that was when they finally met in person for the first time. It was a significant moment, but they still had a long way to go. By their first anniversary, August 30th, 2021, they felt confident enough to go public with their relationship, sharing the news with their families and friends. They could have told people sooner, but it was a matter of confidence and comfortability. Everyone was incredibly happy regardless, and that’s what mattered most.
Joe began his time at Tyler Junior College in January 2022, and their relationship continued to grow even while they were still far apart. Then in May 2022, Joe and his family surprised Danielle by showing up at her high school graduation. It meant the world to her, and they spent a few days together, visiting her church, exploring the mountains, and simply being present. In their first two years of their relationship, they had only seen each other twice.
Danielle started college at Colorado Mesa University that fall and Joe started a full-time job in the spring, which brought new challenges to their relationship. It took a while for them to adjust to a different routine and constant exhaustion for them both. Like always, they worked through the tough moments and came out stronger on the other side. The big things felt big, like more frequent week-long trips between Colorado and Texas, but the small things felt huge, like calling each other often. Every fight and every personal struggle made them stronger together, but so did the happy things, big and small.
Joe graduated with his associates degree in December 2023 and continued to work full-time while he waited for Danielle to finish college too. In the meantime, he moved to Colorado in August 2024, but they were still 300 miles apart most of the time. It was quite the adjustment, being close in proximity after four years of long-distance. Still, it allowed Joe to visit Danielle often, just to spend a couple of days together once in a while.
During one of those trips, they went to Arches National Park for a day. Danielle had figured out that he had the ring, so she was expecting a proposal soon, but they went all the way through the park and he still hadn’t proposed. She began to lose hope, but as they headed back, Joe pulled over to look at a beautiful overlook of the valley and got out his camera. It was windy and cold, so Danielle said she would stay in the car while he took pictures. Somehow, Joe convinced her to get out of the car and take pictures with him. Then got on one knee, pulled out a wooden box he engraved himself, and said (something along the lines of) “We’ve been together for a long time, and I think it’s about time to take the next step. Will you marry me?” She said yes! And then he gave her the ring instead of putting it on her hand for her… It was windy, cold, and messy, but it was an absolutely beautiful proposal nonetheless.
It was all worth the wait. They have been used to waiting - waiting to meet each other in person, waiting to see each other again, waiting to move to Colorado, waiting to finish college, waiting to propose, and now waiting to get married, with more waiting after that, for sure. But it’s easy to wait when it means more time with your best friend, forever. Their relationship was built on friendship, perseverance, and centering their lives around God and His plan. Who knows what He has in store for them next?