We wouldn't be here today without certain people and we are both the quickest to admit that --

A little over a month before her own wedding, my friend Laney McCullough (Cox) sent me a text and little did I know what would escalate from that. She told me about her husband's best friend, this guy named Ian, who was super sweet and loves the Lord - two good traits to me! She told me he would be at their wedding and thought we had a lot of similar values.

Fast forward to their wedding day… Ian and I got introduced at the reception, stayed in the same area for the rest of the night, and then proceeded to continue to hang out with some of his friends that night after the wedding. The next day, we went on a date at Panini Pete’s and then walked around downtown Fairhope and ate ice cream at Mr. Gene’s Beans – we hung out for 6 hours and the only thing that ended it was the fact that I had a 3 ½ hour drive back to Birmingham for class the next day and it was already 5 pm. We’ve spoken every single day since meeting.

On June 28, Ian and I were going to “dinner” at Dauphin’s, but going to grab a drink beforehand at this new place in downtown Mobile that Ian was surprising me with. We pulled up at the History Museum of Mobile, where we first met. Immediately confused and looking at Ian, he said we was surprising me with pictures for our anniversary coming up (my idea that I had pitched to him a few weeks prior). Honestly, best surprise ever, if you know me! We proceeded into the courtyard area where Ian got down on one knee and now we get to spend forever together!

He is the epitome of a 1 Corinthians 13 love – always patient, kind, never envious, never proud, never boastful; he doesn’t dishonor other, he is not self-seeking, he is not easily angered and doesn’t keep any record of wrongs. He is a leader, provider, friend to everyone, and encourager – I’m the luckiest girl in the world to get to be his wife!

Thank the Lord for a successful set-up and friends who are responsible for doing so!