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Their first date began about 7 p.m., with a short Wii challenge and pizza with grilled chicken and extra cheese.

Princess Howell and Shane Johnson spent the next nine hours talking and getting to know each other. They got along so well, Howell didn’t want their date to end. Before she left Johnson’s apartment, he asked her to call him so he’d know she was home safely. But he called her 10 minutes later. They talked until 10:30 that morning — an hour before Howell had to go to work.

“I knew during that phone conversation that I was in love with him,” Howell recalls. “I felt so great at work, even though I had not slept for over 24 hours. I was so energetic and happy.”

Their first date was March 29, and Johnson proposed —with the blessing of Howell’s father — one month later.

Overcome with emotion at the time, Howell doesn’t recall everything he said, but she remembers this: “he said, 'A lot of people get married because they want to be with somebody, but given our relationship this past month, I don’t want to live without you.’ ”

If they win the contest, their wedding day — Feb. 5 — will be Johnson’s 30th birthday.

Johnson, who describes himself as “an old soul,” says he always wanted to get married.

“He said he wanted to get married in kindergarten,” Howell says. “I always thought that was cute.”

Johnson says this comes from observing his own father’s shortcomings as a husband. He recalls his mother’s tears when his father forgot her birthday or special occasions.

“In my heart I was like, 'God, give me a wife so I could do for my wife what my dad wasn’t able to do for my mom,’ ” he says. “I learned a lot of life lessons from my dad’s mistakes.”

Howell, 26, and Johnson, 29, met through an online forum for nonprofit entrepreneurs. Johnson, who has a degree in religion, wanted to start a nonprofit ministry for the homeless. He put that on hold, however, to help Howell with her nonprofit dance company, Royal Expressions Contemporary Ballet. It was already under way, he says, and he felt a greater need to support her. Howell says they make a great team, and she feels confident they will help make each other’s dreams come true.

Howell, whose father is a minister, also likes that Johnson shares her Christian faith.

“When you get married, it’s not just about you, but it’s about your family, too,” she says.

Her previous boyfriend was an atheist and unfaithful. Although they dated for six years, she knew they wouldn’t marry because of their religious differences.

Johnson found that some women weren’t as interested in him, once they realized he was so devout. It wasn’t an issue for Howell . Johnson also says Howell always made time for him, even though she juggled three jobs. They talked by phone, texted or chatted on Facebook every spare minute she had.

“She believes in me more than I believe in myself,” Johnson says. “She makes me feel like there’s nothing I can’t do.”

“He makes me feel like the most important person in the world,” Howell says.

Contact Tina Firesheets at 373-3498 or tina.firesheets@news-record.com