There's a version of love we're often sold - fast, fiery, and all-consuming. It promises instant certainty and dramatic beginnings. But the love that lasts rarely arrives that way. More often, it comes quietly - built with intention, patience, and trust.
Scott and I found that kind of love right here in Wilson County, and we have since poured our love back into Lebanon.
Our story didn't begin with grand gestures or perfect timing. It began simply - with conversation, mutual respect, and a first date close to home that felt unexpectedly grounding. There was no rush to define what we were becoming. Instead, there was space to listen, to learn, and to allow something meaningful to take root. From the very beginning, Wilson County wasn't just the backdrop of our love story - it was part of its foundation.
As our relationship unfolded, so did our appreciation for the quiet romance woven throughout our community. We found beauty in sunsets stretching across the hills at the Whited Family Farm Farm-to-Table Dinner, where long tables, shared meals, and golden light reminded us how connection is often built slowly, side by side. We lingered over cocktails and live music at The Public House, learning how joy can live in the simple act of staying awhile.
We strolled hand-in-hand through Fiddlers Grove and the Wilson County Fair, where agriculture isn't just tradition - it's legacy. Both of us were raised on farms, shaped by early mornings, hard work, and a deep respect for the land. Walking the fairgrounds, surrounded by livestock barns, familiar rhythms, and generations of families celebrating the work of their hands, filled us with a quiet joy. It reminded us where we come from and why community matters - that love, like agriculture, is cultivated over time and passed down with care.
We entered this season of life with full lives already in motion - callings, responsibilities, and work rooted in purpose. Rather than asking love to replace those things, we allowed it to strengthen them. As our relationship deepened, so did our shared appreciation for the people, stories, and spirit of Wilson County. Our love grew alongside our love for this place, and eventually, that shared passion came to life as Lebanon City Lifestyle - a joint effort born from connection, creativity, and a deep desire to serve and celebrate our community.
The calm and peace that became the foundation of our relationship didn't come from us alone - it came from God and our trust in His timing. It reflects what we believe so deeply in Rules of the Harvest: you reap what you sow, you reap later than you sow, and you always reap more than you sow. Love, like faith, requires patience. It grows best when nurtured and allowed to unfold naturally.
What surprised us most wasn't the romance, but the steadiness - the way love can feel grounding instead of chaotic. Real love creates space for individuality, purpose, and growth, while offering support without expectation.
That sense of peace followed us even to our elopement at Dunton Hot Springs last fall, tucked into the quiet beauty of the Colorado mountains. In that stillness, surrounded by nature, we were reminded of God's presence - steady, intentional, and deeply grounding - much like the love we had cultivated back home.
This season of love is less about proving anything and more about presence - choosing one another daily, especially in the ordinary moments. It's about celebrating love not only between two people, but within a community that nurtures it. The most beautiful love stories aren't rushed. They're cultivated - one faithful step at a time.
Article by January Alexander-Coffin
Photography by Moosehead Designs
Originally published in Lebanon City Lifestyle