Their journey began on May 3rd, 2022. Lauren had been working out at F45 for quite some time and had become friends with a couple of the girls there. One friend, Julia, reached out to Lauren on Easter 2022, asking, "What’s your type, and what age range are you looking for?" Lauren responded, "I usually go for taller guys with brown hair, under 40, as long as he's a good guy." Julia replied, "I think I might have someone for you. He's tall, conservative, and 28." With that, Julia set them up on a double date.

Fortunately, Julia and her boyfriend (now husband) joined them that evening for dinner. Both David and Lauren were quite shy at first, and as the night went on, David hadn’t asked for Lauren’s phone number, which left her feeling discouraged, thinking he might not be interested. But as they were leaving the bar, Lauren decided to take a bold step, which was unlike her in dating situations, and asked, "So, are you going to ask for my number?" David smiled and asked for it.

David then decided to play a bit of hard-to-get, leaving Lauren waiting for two weeks. During that time, she figured the date hadn’t been as great as she initially thought. But it turned out that David was just incredibly busy with work, something Lauren quickly learned about his demanding schedule. Finally, David texted her and asked if she was free on May 24th. Lauren debated whether to play hard-to-get herself or accept his invitation right away. Realizing that David wasn’t interested in playing games and genuinely wanting to see him again, she said she was free after work. He responded, "Perfect, I’ll buy us tickets to the Angels game. I’ll pick you up at 5 pm."

Lauren had never dated someone so straightforward in making plans, and she loved it. They went to the game and had an amazing time, with conversation flowing effortlessly. Lauren began to fall for David.

It wasn’t love at first sight, but more like a gradual walk into love, choosing to take each step along the way.

Lauren vividly remembers August 2022, when David went on a camping trip with friends to Twin Lakes, California. He sent her a video of his best friend asking him to be the Godfather to his first child, Krieger. In that moment, Lauren’s world stood still, and she knew without a doubt that she loved David and that one day he would be the father of her children.

Having a Goddaughter of her own, Lauren understood the immense honor that title holds. Knowing that David’s best friend chose him to be the Godfather to his first child made Lauren realize what she had been quickly learning about David—that he wasn’t too good to be true. He really was the perfect man.

Their love story has flourished over the past two years, and now, a little over three years after they started dating, they will be married.

For those who know Lauren, it’s no secret that she waited a long time and trusted in God's plan for her forever. But now, it’s clear that God had the perfect plan all along and brought David into her life at exactly the right time when she was ready to receive the abundant love he shows.

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