I met Abby one night doing homework with a group of friends during the first semester of our freshman year. Nobody had ever made an impression on me like she did that night. After Christmas break, we started studying together regularly. Some of the things we bonded over at first were movie soundtracks, family experiences, and animal crackers. Conversation with her was easy, it was fun, it was something I hadn't experienced the same way with anybody else.

On Valentine's Day (coincidentally), we went on a hike down on the bluff trails next to campus and I found myself getting lost in conversation with her as we walked miles along the side of the mountain. The next day was a Sunday and, in the middle of the day, we all got the providential message from the college that Monday would be a snow day. This was perfect, I was dying to get more time with Abby, so I asked her out on our first date together that night. My roommate, Chase, was kind enough to let me borrow his truck, so Abby and I could get off campus. This was a big deal; this was basically the first legit date I had ever asked a girl out on. It had to be good: something fun, something that could make me seem cooler than I was. It came to me. We were going to break into Point Park, the historic park on the point of Lookout Mountain with a beautiful view of the river and the city, but most importantly it's easily accessible after hours. She had never been before, so it was a plan. As we walked around the park in the freezing cold, we shared our testimonies and had an endless supply of things to talk about. Whenever it was that we made it back to the truck and blasted the heat, I was not ready for the night to be over. So we continued driving around the mountain and talking until the wee hours of the morning. Unfortunately, we had to say goodnight at some point, but it was easily one of the best nights of my life to that day.

We kept hanging out for the rest of the semester and continued getting closer. After a lot of prayer and good conversations, we decided to wait to get more serious until we came back to school after summer break. That summer was really hard not being able to see her, but also really good. We spent the summer writing letters to each other, having Skype dates, and investing in our families. Looking back now, we are very thankful for that summer for the ways the Lord worked in our lives while we were apart.

You can only imagine the amount of anticipation and excitement I was experiencing as I drove cross-country at the end of summer to get back to Chattanooga and see Abby again. After picking her up from the airport, we went out for an appropriately Southern meal and my heart was entirely content again being with her after three months apart. Abby is the most special woman in this world, so I knew that having a conversation with her father was really important. After saying goodnight, I had the opportunity to call her father and ask his permission to date his daughter. He was (and still is to this day) incredibly encouraging and supportive, which I was extremely thankful for. The next morning, I brought her out to our favorite breakfast place and finally asked her to be my girlfriend. Not surprisingly, she was stoked, I was stoked, and the world was suddenly an even more beautiful place. We were on cloud nine that day (and pretty much have been ever since). That night as we were at a concert with Hannah and Adam (Abby's sister and brother-in-law), my first niece, Edie, was born to my oldest brother Dane and his wife. As if that day wasn't exciting enough. On top of everything that day, I realized there was no way I was waiting any longer to kiss the most beautiful girl in the world who was now my girlfriend. So, I drove us up to Point Park, a place that was becoming even more special for us. Sitting there on the edge of the mountain with a view of the city on the best day of my life that far, we had our first kiss. It was everything I had hoped for and then some, easily one of the most memorable moments of my life. Needless to say, that day, August 21 2015, became historic.

Fast forward through the best first few months of dating ever. We came back to school after Christmas break and told each other what we had never said to anyone else: "I love you." Those three words were something I kept very protectively up to that point. Abby was the first girl I had ever loved and I was confident that the Lord would continue to work in our relationship and grow us closer together and, ultimately, closer to himself. Telling her that I loved her was a really big deal for me and, as I heard her tell me the same, my life was changed. From then on, I experienced a kind of vulnerability and grace with Abby that I hadn't experienced from any other person.

The following summer, the Lord worked in our lives as we were apart yet again. His faithfulness to us was becoming a theme in our relationship. God used our jobs, close friends, and family to prepare our hearts for the next stage in our lives. Before going up to Seattle to visit Abby, I quickly had a change of heart and realized that this trip was the opportunity I needed to ask for her parents' blessing on our marriage. [Thank you, Walt] My conversation with them was full of excitement, encouragement, and support. Both of our families' support and excitement for our relationship has been another theme--thank you guys so much.

I spent the rest of the summer working, designing a ring, and planning the proposal. It was so exciting.

September 16 was the big day. That night was Jazz on the Overlook, an outdoor swing dance at Covenant with a live big band. We were all dressed up and fancy for the dance (Abby was stunning...obviously), so I brought her out to a really nice dinner down in the art district of Chattanooga at Back Inn Cafe. It was easily the best meal we have ever had in Chattanooga. Somehow I made it through dinner in one piece, enjoying our conversation...praise the Lord. We headed back up the mountain to go dance and enjoy the firework show that Covenant had planned for the night. I suggested that we leave the dance early and break into Point Park, since we hadn't been there since the night we had our first kiss. It was a full moon that night with clear skies and a warm breeze. We got into the Park with ease and began walking down to the overlook, reminiscing on our past experiences there: sharing our testimonies on our first date, sharing our first kiss a little over a year before. Looking back on the Lord's faithfulness to us was the perfect preparation for moving forward into marriage and trusting in the Lord's steadfastness. We made it to the overlook, enjoying the full moon's illumination of the river below us and the twinkle of the city in the distance. I got down on one knee, pulled on the ring, and asked the big question. SHE SAID YES. I was so excited, I immediately embraced her and was overwhelmed with excitement and love. She had to remind me that I should put the ring on her finger, hahaha, duh! We got to see the ring on her finger for the first time, glistening in the light of the full moon. It was perfect. After exploding with excitement some more and just soaking in everything for a little while, we went down to her sister Hannah's house for a surprise little celebration with a very small, intimate group of our closest friends (all of whom are in our wedding party). The party was complete with our favorite donuts from Julie Darling's and a surprise visit from Abby's best friend, Janie, who flew in from San Diego to celebrate with us. We spent the rest of the weekend celebrating, getting more and more excited about our wedding, and getting very little sleep. Everything had gone perfectly; we are so thankful for the Lord's incredible blessings.

And now, we get to look forward to celebrating with our friends and family on June 17 as we worship the Lord in being united in marriage and starting our life together.

I first met Eric a few months after beginning my first year at Covenant College. We met while studying with a group of mutual friends. I remember walking away from that night wanting to be closer friends with him, but it was not until coming back after Christmas break that we really started to become good friends. We began studying in groups in January, which eventually led to us bonding over a series of things: animal crackers, movie soundtracks, and much more. I loved talking to Eric. It was so easy and refreshing to spend time with him. He is an exceptionally kind and thoughtful person, and the best listener I know. His love for God and the people in his life made an impression on me and still do to this day :)

It was not long before group study sessions turned into just the two of us studying, and not much longer till Eric asked me on our first date. We were both in our dorms when we got the heavily anticipated message we would have a snow day and classes were cancelled. Eric texted me, and asked if I wanted to go somewhere on the mountain. I did. He borrowed his roommate's truck (thank you Chase!), and we headed to Point Park, a place that has become very special to us. The catch here was that we had to break in, but I trusted Eric and we headed in to see one of the most gorgeous views on the mountain. That night was definitely a turning point, we shared our testimonies while walking around the park. It was wonderful. So wonderful that we actually drove around the mountain for a while after leaving the park just so we could keep talking.

Over the next few months our feelings continued to grow, but we had to make the decision of whether or not to start dating before or after the summer. We decided to wait due to some wise advice (Dad knows all). That summer was difficult being apart, but we grew even closer. It is hard to say when I knew I wanted to marry Eric (I had a feeling all along), but by the end of that summer I knew he was the one. After three months apart, we were reunited in the Atlanta airport after a lot of anticipation. If you have ever been to the Atlanta airport, you know there is an escalator that takes you from the gates up to baggage claim. I had been dreaming about seeing Eric at the top of that escalator for months. Most people don't consider the Atlanta airport to be the place of dreams, but the memory of seeing Eric there is frozen in my mind as one of our most special moments. He was standing there all tan and handsome with a bouquet of flowers and smiling my favorite smile in the world. I can't even remember what we talked about driving from Atlanta back to Chattanooga, but I do remember the feeling of being completely content sitting by Eric, talking, and finally holding his hand! The next morning Eric took me to our favorite breakfast place at the time, Farmer's Daughter and asked me if I would date him. I said yes :) it was an awesome first day of dating.

It is difficult to choose the most significant moments from the year that followed the start of our dating relationship. We had a lot of them. However, the most significant to me include us meeting each others families, saying "I love you," and the amazing grace God has allowed us to experience through loving each other.

This past summer we were long distance again. We both worked in the place we grew up for the summer and were able to visit each other a few times. Eric visited me first in Seattle. It was on this visit we decided we were going to be getting married this next summer. We had been talking about marriage for while and knew we wanted to marry each other, but were not sure about the timing. It was amazing to see the ways God worked in revealing to us His perfect timing. Eric asked for my parents blessing and we spent the next few days soaking in the excitement of the decision.

Coming back to school, I was heavily anticipating when Eric would propose. Eric loves surprises and I love knowing what is going to happen. I tried to suppress the side of me that analyzes details so I would not pick up on any hints of when Eric would propose. However, I did pick up on a few things. A week before the proposal Eric subtly asked me if I would like to go out for a nice dinner before Jazz on the Overlook (an event at the college we attend). I love Jazz on the Overlook, especially because there is dancing and Eric is a very good dancer. I was a little suspicious because he was acting more casual than usual about the date. The night before the proposal, he was concerned that I get enough sleep because I had been "so tired lately." I told my sister Hannah and my friend Elinor about these suspicions. Both of them knew about the engagement plans and worked their clever ways to convince me I was over analyzing (well done ladies, not an easy job).

Finally, the day of the proposal arrived. Eric took me out for an amazing dinner and then we drove back up the mountain for Jazz on the Overlook. We had so much fun dancing and watching the fireworks. Eric suggested we leave early to go to Point Park. The full moon was absolutely beautiful that night and the city lights twinkled through the trees as we walked through the park. Eric started to talk about past times we had come to the park and all the growth that had happened since. I began to get very curious at this point, but tried to remain calm. We eventually made it to the overlook where you can see the whole city. The moon was still shining brightly and there was a perfectly warm breeze. As I was looking at the moon I felt Eric shift next to me and realized he was getting on his knees!!! He asked me to MARRY HIM, and before I knew it I had SAID YES and we were hugging, laughing, and crying all at the same time. We took a while to just freak out about all that had happened, and then he told me there was a small group at my sisters house. I did not know who exactly to expect, but all of our closest friends and family in Chattanooga were there. I thought I had seen everyone, but then my best friend Janie walked out to surprise me. At this point I was crying lots of joyful tears. It was the best night of my life up to this point.

Now, Eric and I are joyfully anticipating June 17th and the adventure of living life together under the grace of our great God!