Me and Mark met spring of 2021 during a big musical production that Harding University puts on called “Spring Sing.” The theme for our clubs’ show was based on the movie “Inside Out” and me and Mark were both the emotion “Anger.” We honestly hadn’t interacted much until show week. That week was when we got each others numbers and started talking more!

The summer after Spring Sing I went to Greece, and despite the time difference, I still found a way to talk to Mark alllll summer long. I found him to be super funny and easy to talk to- he also liked one of my favorite bands, Twenty One Pilots. I remember my best friend who was on the trip with me (also my maid of honor) said, “I think you like him” and I was in denial. What I didn’t notice was that I smiled every time he texted me and talked about him to my friend way too much.

After summer was over and we got back to school, me and Mark scheduled our first hang out- going to Sonic. We really hit it off. There was never an awkward moment, and I was immediately drawn to his caring and loving heart. At this time, neither of us knew the other was interested… we just thought we were “friends.” That was until a mutual friend of ours saw us hanging out and asked if it was a date. Me and Mark both said no initially, but that started the conversation on what these “hang outs” actually were. We both finally admitted to each other that we were interested in the other.

I think we hung out every night for the whole first month of that semester. We had conversations about our families, our past, our friends, and all things beyond surface level.

Then there was one day in the student center that all of our mutual friends were talking about going to this concert… a Pitbull concert (you can laugh). It was going to be on a Wednesday night, three hours away, and I impulsively decided to go and convinced Mark to go with me. The concert was a blast, and after the concert we drove back to campus and talked in the car until 5am when the dorms opened. During that time, Mark asked me to be his girlfriend. You should have seen how happy I was. That was the early early morning of September 9th, 2021.

Flash foreword a little bit to a trip we took to Silver Dollar City that fall, and that was when we first said “I love you.” I cried when Mark said it first. That was October 1st 2021 (yes it was less than a month, but when you know, you know).

Throughout our relationship, we have learned a lot about each other. The good, the bad, and everything in between. We have had so many beautiful experiences together, and it didn’t take us long to realize that we wanted that for the rest of our lives.

That brings me to the proposal. Two years later on September 9th, 2023 Mark got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. This was something I was excited for for a very long time, so the answer was easy: YES! He did it at the place he asked me to be his girlfriend two years before. After that, we started driving to my moms house for a “little” engagement party. When I got there, I was surprised to find out that it wasn’t a “little” party, but that many of our friends and family from out of state came to celebrate with us. I immediately started crying when I walked in the door (super happy tears).

I love reminiscing on mine and Mark’s relationship together and dreaming about the future that we have. I can’t help but praise God for the blessing that this relationship is. Mark truly is everything I could have ever wanted and so much more.

We met Spring 2021.
We started dating September 9, 2021.
We got engaged September 9, 2023.
We are getting married May 5, 2024