Emma and Joakim’s story began in the summer of 2019 at Kroger, where they both worked. At the time, Emma was focused on getting through a tough season in college, but she couldn’t help noticing Joakim’s joyful spirit, confident presence, and big brown eyes. The first time he came up to her, grabbing a key lime pie sample with his signature smile, she felt something special. Neither of them knew it then, but that simple encounter was the beginning of something extraordinary.

From the very start, their connection was undeniable. They quickly became inseparable, spending nearly every day together. Whether working side by side at H-E-B after Kroger, going on dates, visiting each other’s homes, or sitting in the car after work talking late into the night, sometimes until 2 a.m., their time together always felt meaningful. Their conversations flowed easily, touching on everything from God’s creation and the Bible to life’s deeper challenges, such as faith, money, emotions, love, and humanity.

It was Emma who spoke the words “I love you” first. Joakim, unsure of how to respond, smiled and said, “I love that you love me.” What began as a shy but genuine answer became a phrase that marked the start of their love story. With time, his words grew bolder, eventually turning into “I love you” and later into the greatest promise of all: “Marry me.”

As 2019 turned into 2020, Emma and Joakim began attending a small group at Hope City. For Emma, watching Joakim grow in his faith and develop a hunger for God’s Word was one of the moments she realized their bond was truly special. Their shared journey with God became the foundation of their relationship and shaped them as they navigated their early twenties. By 2022, they had found a new small group where their faith continued to flourish, and their love grew even deeper.

Through quarantine days spent as each other’s closest companions, through laughter, growth, and challenges, Emma and Joakim discovered that their connection was far more than chance. It was God’s plan. Their relationship was not always perfect, and like any couple, they faced struggles. Yet no matter what, they always found their way back to each other. For them, that was not luck. It was God mending their spirits together and preparing them to become one.

Now, more than five years later, the once-smiling coworker and the curious girl at the sample table stand as partners in faith and in life. Their love story is rooted in joy, perseverance, and the belief that God’s hand has been guiding them all along. What started with “I love that you love me” has blossomed into a lifetime of “I love you, marry me.”