Big life changes over here, my friends!

My dear, wonderful Creighton Dryden proposed to me a few weeks ago, and we are overjoyed to be getting married in a few short months!

I will dive into all of the engagement details in a separate post, but I’d like to share a little about Creighton and our relationship first.

(I also decided that it’s time to unleash the many photos I over-analyzed posting vs. not posting when we were dating. You girls know what I’m talking about.)

I met Creighton my very first year in Dallas in the most random of ways. At that time, my friend Johnny had decided to move to New York City and he needed a little help in the packing department. I, a moving pro, offered to come over and help him begin the packing process. Well, lo and behold, when I arrived to Johnny’s house to help him move, a blue eyed, blonde haired guy opened the door and said, “can I help you?” I explained why I was there, which caused Creighton to laugh out loud. He said, “Well, Johnny isn’t here, but you’re welcome to come inside and wait for him.”

If you know Johnny, you are also laughing out loud right now, because every facet of this story—from enlisting a girl to help him move to the part where he forgot about it all together— is so on brand with Johnny Flores. (Johnny did eventually show up, for the record.)

To be honest, I’m a little shocked that I remember that first meeting with Creighton because we were both “spoken for” at that time and our exchange was incredibly brief. But even so, I somehow remember that introduction so well. I remember him wearing kakhi shorts and an old frat tee; I remember the look on his face when he answered the door.

Isn’t that memory a cool gift?

Creighton and I formed a friendship over the next few years, but it was always only that: a friendship. My perspective on Creighton was that he was kind and easy to talk to. And also important to note: we didn’t see each other often. Maybe 2-3 times a year at mutual friends’ parties. In fact, we went a whole year without seeing each other before we reconnected and began dating.

The next few years after my first introduction to Creighton, I jokingly (and cringingly) say that I dated every boy in Dallas. I would go on tons of first dates, a few second dates, and hardly any third dates. Don’t get me wrong—there were some great guys in the mix! Just never the right one.

After one particularly terrible date, I decided I needed a break. So I made a pact with myself to take a year off dating. (Obviously, I was feeling dramatic at that time.) I distinctly remember recanting said pact a few months later, but God must’ve agreed I needed a break because no dates came my way for a solid twelve months.

…But what did come my way was a really hard season of life. Maybe my hardest season yet. I’m going to spare you all of the details, but I will say that it was tough…and yet, it was also a really sweet time of my life. Isn’t that a crazy juxtaposition? Often when things are the hardest is when God feels the nearest. I saw His love for me in a new and wonderful way; I experienced the deep care of my friends and church community; I found new little joys in my life (like my ridiculous and short lived podcast). I tell ya: sometimes those hard seasons are so good for the soul.

Anyhow, through that season I gained a new sense of purpose in my life and job, which led me to decide that I was actually A-OK being single. I was content. And not only was I content; I was happy.

And wouldn’t you know, that’s the exact same time that Creighton Dryden walked back into my life.

We reconnected at an event I was working one night, and though I hadn’t seen him in a year at that point, it was as easy as ever to talk to him. He stuck around until the event was over and joined me and another friend for dinner.

Over the next few weeks, we ran into each other a few times (which I later learned was somewhat calculated by a smitten Creighton). And then one night I looked at my phone and had a voicemail from a 512 phone number. (Fun fact: I didn’t have Creighton’s phone number until he asked me out, and though we had been casual friends for a few years, I actually didn’t even know his last name. Ha!) We went on a first date a week later—ironically, almost exactly one year after my “one year pact.” Cheesy, but true.

And as they say, the rest was history!

Creighton Dryden is the friend that everyone needs. He is always kind—no matter the situation; He is humble and loyal; He values His church and the Lord; He makes me laugh and allows me to be my goofiest self; He’s the king of trivia; He’s part preppy/part nerd (you should see how his face lights up when he talks about the new Star Wars series on Disney Plus…); He’s sensitive to my emotions; He’s a wannabe cowboy and absolute rodeo lover; He’s a gentleman and a partner in crime (ok, we haven’t committed actual crimes, but I think I could influence him in that direction if ever needed).

He’s just the best and I’m so thankful that he’s mine.

Kat
Currently listening to “Ride With Me” by Cody Johnson