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. I was Abby's first kiss and am so thankful for the incredible honor that was. 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.

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