Juniors Katie Hughes and Justin Hawthorne attend a wedding together.

Faith, friendship first

Shared values set firm foundation for long-lasting relationship

As she thumbs through the pages of the freshly purchased coloring book, the young man nervously awaits her response. Time ticks away on the suitor’s wristwatch as his anticipation builds. After what seems like an eternity, Justin Hawthorne’s cellphone abruptly rings upon receiving a call from Katie Hughes. Hawthorne picks up the phone and begins one of the most important relationships of his life.

One year and 11 months ago, juniors Katie Hughes and Justin Hawthorne became a couple on their way to the girls’ state championship basketball game.

That makes the relationship enjoyable and genuine because we are close friends and a couple.

— Katie Hughes, 11

“One of Katie’s hobbies is coloring, so I decided to ask her out with a coloring book,” Hawthorne said. “We were driving to the state championship. She was telling me how she was bored and she likes to color, so I got her an animal coloring book and on the first page of the book I wrote, “Will you be my girlfriend?” Katie skimmed through the first few pages of the book and didn’t see it. One of Katie’s friends found the note, and that’s when Katie finally read it.”

Hughes said she was flattered upon reading Hawthorne’s request.

“I was actually in the bathroom when my friend read the note,” Hughes said. “I heard her say ‘Aww’, so I came out of the stall and read the note. It was a great feeling to read that question so I called Justin and said, ‘Sure, I would love to.’”

Hughes said Hawthorne and she go on dates at least twice a month and spend time together without their church youth group or friends to accompany them.

“We usually go and eat dinner somewhere and then we will go to the theater and watch a movie,” Hughes said. “We also take a separate day for just us during the week. We are both heavily involved in our youth group, Nitro Youth, so usually we are always around our group and church or our friends, so we plan one day a week where it’s just us two having lunch instead of eating lunch in a larger group setting.”

Hughes and Hawthorne said they believe their relationship remains stable due to the incorporation of the Christian faith in their love life.

Since we have set our relationship up where God is first, we have a stronger and more real relationship with each other.

— Justin Hawthorne, 11

“A lot of high school couples don’t necessarily include the right morals in their relationship, but we set up boundaries like not having sex until we are married,” Hawthorne said. “We are able to have a stronger relationship than the typical high school couple. Since we have set our relationship up where God is first, we have a stronger and more real relationship with each other.”

Hughes and Hawthorne agree another factor in the stability and happiness of their relationship is their willingness to be patient and become friends before pursuing romance.

“Part of what makes our relationship work is before we started dating, we took the time to become best friends,” Hughes said. “That makes the relationship enjoyable and genuine because we are close friends and a couple. It’s just important to not rush into things.”

Hawthorne and Hughes said they believe they have cultivated a long-lasting and meaningful connection.

“To me, a meaningful relationship means to love each other no matter what happens and always protect each other,” Hawthorne said. “It means to care about each other’s feelings and put each other first. I know that is the kind of relationship we have, so I’m hoping we stay together for a very long time and last throughout our time in college.”

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