Matthew and I met during our freshman year of college at DBU. We had class together and we would occasionally interact through social media, but we didn’t really talk a whole lot until I moved back to Willis the summer after our freshman year. I was serving at kids camp with my church and had posted a silly picture with some third grade girls and randomly, Matthew messaged me and asked how camp was going. We talked every day for the rest of camp, which turned into the rest of the summer. Getting to know Matthew was so sweet. When we’d talk, we would talk about things like ministry and our families and things we were learning, and about the ways we saw God working in our lives. Those were seriously some of the sweetest and most encouraging conversations I have ever had and they showed me just a tiny glimpse of Matthew’s heart that deeply seeks to love people and know and honor God. We would talk every few days for the rest of the summer and finally, I think sometime in August, Matthew asked me to go on a date with him. I planned a trip to Dallas literally that same night hahaha. I drove to Dallas the first weekend in September and Matthew and I went to breakfast at First Watch. The next day before I left to go back home, we went to TopGolf (I beat him, just for the record) and then we made pizzas for dinner and he taught me how to ripstick (super humbling to me). I called my sister on my drive back to Willis that night and told her, "This is probably a crazy thing to say, but I kinda feel like I'll probably marry him." When you know, you know I suppose! hahaha

The next few months were full of lots of phone calls and trips to Dallas and fun dates and on November 21, 2022, Matthew sat with me in his truck and asked me if I wanted to make things official. Clearly an enthusiastic yes from me, as you can imagine, and the rest truly is history!

Being Matthew's girl has been the Lord's kindest and most abundantly gracious gift to me. I know Jesus more now than I ever have before because of Matthew, and I am completely confident that I am truly so much better with him than I am without him. It has been so sweet to see the way the God has walked so faithfully with us through this season, and I am looking forward with so much joy to running this race together, being sanctified together, and being co-laborers of the Gospel together for the rest of our days!