We met at a young adult devotional after a Sunday evening service with Crieve Hall Church of Christ in the summer of 2022. I thought he was really cute but probably had a girlfriend, of course. Although, I did not think much of our meeting, I still said hello to him at church from time to time.

Fast forward to the fall of 2023, Jackson was always making a point to come up and talk to me at church. I still just thought he was being friendly though. He would sometimes ask to sit with me, and we always talked after Bible class. He even sat and talked with me at a young adult retreat for over an hour! Several of my friends made the suggestion to me that they believed he was interested in getting to know me more. I really did not believe it, until one day after Bible class when he asked for my number and suggested we get coffee sometime.

Soon after, we did have that coffee date! I was working nightshift at that time, so it was difficult to plan when we would be able to see each other again. However, Jackson was quick and persistent to schedule the next time we could spend time together. I told him very early on how shy I could be, and my family also warned him of the same thing! But Jackson was determined to crack open my shell. He never left a date without making sure he asked when we would see each other again. He then planned a date for us to walk around Belmont's campus to look at their Christmas lights. It was after that date that I knew I wanted to continue to hang out with him for a very long time.

Jackson officially asked me to be his girlfriend on December 4, 2023. Very quickly after, I knew I loved him. By January 22, 2024, we told each other just that! Around March of this year, we began tip-toeing around the idea of marriage, but we both were afraid we might scare the other away. After we finally admitted to each other we both felt that marriage was where our relationship was headed, he asked my parents for their blessing. I knew he asked them, so after a few weeks, I was getting very antsy to know when he would propose. However, he, as well as our families and close friends, were very good to keep the surprise he was planning until June 30th when he proposed at the beach with our families there! I had no idea that my family would be there, but of course, he knew how important that was to me. That was why he asked so long in advance, so that they could plan ahead, coordinate schedules, and find somewhere to stay nearby. The whole week was an absolute dream - being newly engaged and spending that time with our families. We have been wedding planning ever since, and we are both so excited for April 18, 2025!