This is where our story starts.
Narrated by Christien:
I first met Jackie at a Tillman Scholarship dinner during the first week of our freshman year of college. I thought she was pretty nice, but didn’t think much about her beyond that.
We really got to know each other at Camp Carey, where we teamed up for competitions against other business freshmen (we had the best team). Jackie and I had the same friends throughout the year, so we got to hang out quite a bit. Sometimes I felt like she tried to hang out with my guy friends too much (haha), but it allowed us to become really good friends. We started texting over spring break of that year, and came together while studying accounting during the semester. At the end of the school year, we decided that we would try dating when we got back to Tempe as sophomores.
Jackie and I texted and talked on the phone all summer, and really got to know each other. The time spent talking provided a very strong foundation that has lasted over time. Once we got back to school in the Fall, we hit it off. Jackie and I have been best friends ever since. I know that I can talk to her about anything and will always have her support. She knows that it works the other way around as well. I love Jackie, and look forward to spending the rest of my life with her.
Narrated by Jackie:
As Christien mentioned, our story started at a Tillman Scholarship dinner. Tillman played a major role in my decision to attend ASU. It also allowed me to get to know Christien beyond his love for sports and OU football.
We discussed pertinent life topics and philosophical leadership questions in the class portion of our scholarship. I learned rather quickly that Christien is a person of strong conviction with high moral standards and values. He always spoke confidently and authentically about his love for God, his family and his community.
Most importantly, Christien walked the talk. Christien and I both believe in the power of athletics to create positive change. In high school, I was blessed with the opportunity to coach a few basketball teams. Christien has pursued a similar vision, co-founding a high school student outreach program with competitive basketball as the hook. He and his best friend, Braxton Redeagle, have helped many at-risk youth earn both hefty academic and athletic scholarships to attend college.
Throughout our years at ASU, Christien and I pushed each other to be our very best and pursue our passions. We both majored in marketing and teamed up quite well on school projects. I could always count on him to hit me with a quality dose of reality and wisdom when necessary as well.
I knew Christien was the one early on (call me crazy). It was during an event we helped co-facilitate called Basketball Beyond Barriers. The camp hosted 100 elementary school youth in Phoenix for a day of basketball drills, cultural awareness, leadership development and goal setting. At the end of the day, we were having the kids perform fun basketball relay races. As everyone focused in on which team would cross the finish line first, I turned and saw Christien focused on something entirely different. He wasn’t standing on the sidelines. He was on the ground walking like a crab next to another little boy struggling to move across the gym at the pace of the others.
Beyond his dashing good looks, it is this example of Christien’s compassion and love for others that still gets me to this day. No matter the twists and turns life throws at us, with God at the center, I know we will fight to make our relationship last a lifetime.
We have amazing family to look up to for guidance and support as well. Christien and I are so thankful for the opportunity to bring our stories, our families, and our celebration of our love together this July 5, 2014. We are blessed to have you join us on this special day.
See you July 5th!
