Zack and I started dating May 28th, 2022. It was a time in our lives when we were experiencing some individual challenges, but little did we know it was all a blessing in disguise. Zack and I had been dealing with some individual hardships and I started a new job but was ready to somehow find a way to move from NC. Zack and I had been chatting a little bit right before I had left my last job, where we met.

Whenever hardships from jobs or life in general rose... my comfort place was either Uncle Will’s house or most often, Tanglewood Park in Clemmons NC. I would grab my journal, Bible, and my devotions book. During the spring/ summer I would sit under a tree and in the cooler months i would sit in my car at golden hour and write out my feelings and talk with God.

One day, Zack and I had only been talking for about a week, a little hello and small talk here and there. He asked if we could meet up somewhere. I said sure. With a lot I had going on at the moment, I wanted to go to my comfort place… Tanglewood. Zack had me thinking we were meeting up so I could help him with some rehabilitation personal training, from some injuries he had from football, (rehabilitation is what I focus on as a personal training for those who don’t know).

I arrived at Tanglewood first, waiting for Zack to tell me he was here.

Poor Zack drove through the gate, paid a whole $2, just to find out I parked off to the side and outside the gate. I was shy and didn’t want him to pay $2 for me so I made things more complicated... he turned around, wasted his $2 and met me in the parking lot where I was. Instead of me thinking of easy I chose being complicated (heehee oops!).

Zack and I walked in the hot heat and blazing sun, where I wanted us to go, when we could have easily driven there, while he was also carrying a backpack filled with water, protein drinks, snacks, blankets etc. Of course, never complained! (He still wouldn’t to this day... I mean hello, we’re getting married the hottest month NC has to offer!)

There’s a garden where I was hoping to go but it was closed. There was an open field right behind the end of the garden so that’s where we went.

After we got to the field, Zack took the blankets out of his bag and set them out so we wouldn’t have to sit on the grass (we love a man who plans and thinks ahead!) and he set out the resistance bands I asked him to bring. Shortly after I had him go through some movements and had him do some exercises with the bands, I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed, but you could feel the vibe/energy and I asked why we were really here... he blushed (he’ll probably deny this lol) and said he’d be right back. He set up his go pro, and he sat down across from me and he opened a gray suede journal and started to read from it… it was a whole 4 pages very top to very bottom, filled with his handwriting, on how he feels about me, about us, and the future plans he has for us, (see we love a man who plans and thinks ahead!)… and that was simply me being his wife. No talks about a white picket fence, American dream home and blah blah blah... but me being his home and him being my home... and me being his wife, not one day... but simply being his wife. I couldn’t talk. I had no idea what to say... I was in awe. This was the most open, pure, and kindest words I’ve ever heard spoken... and not just spoken but spoken about me. I grew up with the generation from the 1920s/30s. I worked with the elderly for 12 years and they were so gracious to share their wisdom with me. Two things from their wisdom was their faith and when choosing who to spend your life with... and that determines your first relationship... and that’s with God. I always heard how my nana talked about my papa and seeing how she deeply loved and took care of him when he became older and needed more care, and how my Uncle Will talked about Aunt MaryJo, how he courted her and the wonderful marriage they all had. Them sitting together smiling with that sparkle in their eyes and nodding their heads agreeing, like this all happened yesterday. Of course, there were ups and downs... but their wisdom told me based off their first relationship with God, determined their marriage relationship with one another. I wanted that. I knew it wasn’t hard to ask for but only God knew that’s what i not only wanted but needed. i knew that true love wasn’t dead... I just knew it was precious and rare to find.

Zack didn’t tell me it was about me. This wasn’t a video “he was making for TikTok”, but he was making this video for me. I caught on as he was reading into the second page, and it was like some clarity came to my mind and peace filled my anxious-tired-overwhelmed/overstimulated heart. His words were so beautiful, and heart felt. When we were leaving to walk back to our cars, we talked a little bit. I was really quiet, taking everything in, but at first- I’m really quiet anyways. We get back to our cars and he hands me my water, protein drink and snacks he packed for us so I could take them home and finish them. He asked if he could have a hug, we did, and he told me to keep his journal. He told me his mind was certainly made up and wanted to give me plenty of time to think things over, but I could reach out to him whenever I wanted to.

I'm driving home and I thought, give it a few days and pray about it. Now looking back, I can imagine God leaning over a balcony, hand resting against His face, smiling saying, daughter... the husband you’ve been praying for is right here! I just laugh now with my hand pressed to my forehead!

Zack was known as the tree man lol. It was almost a week after Tanglewood I reached out to him. I had mentioned to Zack a wooden table a friend gave me when I moved into my condo, and it needed to be refurbished. I had seen some of his work on Instagram and TikTok, so I asked if he knew anyone, (I was still shy and didn’t want to bother him with this task). He gladly expressed he would take care of it, and asked if he could pick it up Friday evening. That day came and he carefully took it apart, put it in the back of his truck and came back upstairs. We chatted for a little bit, and he asked if I had plans for dinner. In a very shy but suspicious way I said “Umm.. noooo”, and he asked if he could take me out. Of course, I said yes! He asked if he could use my restroom to change. He kept his bag of clothes to change, in his truck, (see, we love a man who plans and thinks ahead!) He fixed my table and it’s so beautiful and special. He posted his work on Instagram and wrote a beautiful message along with it.

I could continue to go on about us but one last thing I’ll add is, God is so wonderful. If I could sit with any of you who are here to celebrate us, or if you ask me, I’ll be happy to tell you, but the prayers I prayed for a future husband is all in Zack. I started praying for my future husband when I was about 18/19. What I remember praying the most was, “God, I hope my future husband knows you, and if he doesn’t, please present yourself to him or put a friend in his life to lead him to You”. I told Zack God comes first and I’m focusing on my walk with Him. If he doesn’t agree with that it’s fine but we won’t work out. Zack has been to church with me almost every Sunday (literally 98% out 100… and the times we didn’t go was when I wasn’t feeling well). With Zack’s up bringing and his old life, I’m so proud of him submitting to God and bringing Christ into his life by free will and his love for me/ our love that was created and blessed by God to transform us for the better. To not just focus on a wedding day but to create a marriage. When we first met, there were so many tears i had to cry but you had many more of your own you had to dry. The two years of us dating, we have healed each other's hearts so deeply. I’m so thankful God has us here in this moment. The simplicity but importance of Gods divine mercy, I wanted to reflect on our wedding day, the importance yet simplicity or our love.

I do not need a miracle to give me faith in God. A butterfly will do, or a sprig of golden rod. But if I had to have a wonder, to rend my doubts a sunder, to prove God true, it would be you!

my great Uncle Wills’ vows to my sweet Aunt MaryJo 🤍

I love you, Zack Cooper, Thank you for choosing me!