Going into the winter break of 2007, Kristina was a senior and I was a junior at the University of Minnesota. We were both heavily involved with Campus Crusade for Christ, had many solid friendships, and were enjoying all that life brought their way. Neither of us were necessarily looking to date or have a serious relationship.

On December 28th, 2007 we were both attending a Campus Crusade conference called Twin Cities Experience (TCX) and some unusual events that night would start us on an interesting journey! In my hotel room with three other guys, I (all 6’5” of me sleeping in a double bed with another big guy) was having trouble falling asleep. Tossing and turning, I then attempted to fall asleep in the hallway, back in the bed and finally down in the hotel hot tub. But all to no avail.

So around 7 a.m. I decided to head to the downtown Caribou coffee to do my morning devotional. As the Lord would have it, awaiting me in the hotel elevator that morning would be a beautiful, tall, blond haired lady named Kristina Lundeen, who had the same idea to go to Caribou. After ordering my coffee I noticed that there were no empty tables available…how convenient! I bravely walked up and asked if I could sit with my new friend.

I wouldn’t necessarily say sparks flew that morning, but a great connection was made. In the following months we started to see each other more often because of mutual friends and Luke began to put on the moves, But more than that, we continued to pursue God first and foremost in our lives. As we each individually grew closer to God, we in turn grew closer to each other. Then in March of that year, our first date happened at Potbelly’s (sandwich shop) in Dinkytown on the University of Minnesota campus.

Just over 14 months later, wedding bells were ringing! To be continued…