Despite coming to Southwest Baptist University at the exact same time and living on a pretty small campus together, Jonathan and I somehow managed to completely avoid each other for the first two years we were there.

We finally met at the beginning of our third year of school when he became a RA (I’d already been one for a semester before he started) and he started going to Springhill Baptist Church (I'd also already been going there for a semester before him). After two years of having never seen him or even hearing his name, he was suddenly around me all the time. The first time I remember talking to him was during a spontaneous game night in September with some of our mutual friends where we played Sushi Go. A few days after that I went to my friend Brook Duncan, now Stafford, and told her to set me up with anyone she wanted. She said, “What about Jonathan Cunningham?”

As she plotted to set us up, Jonathan and I kept finding ourselves together whether that be running into each other in the Student Union or both signing up to study the life of C.S. Lewis in Ireland through our school (very important detail for later). After two months of us "accidentally" running into each other and orchestrating movie nights with friends so we could hang out, Jonathan asked me on our first date. I was awed by his intentionality, Christ-centeredness, and boldness; he asked me to be his girlfriend on the first date...to which I said no. After two weeks of praying and talking to wise people in my life, we went on our second date where he asked me to be his girlfriend again. Of course, I said yes.

Jonathan has been my favorite person and someone I've always felt so natural and comfortable around, which is not normal for me to feel around most people. He has time after time again made me feel so loved with his intentionality (getting to know me through a list of 1,000 questions that we went through together over five months) and desire to keep Christ at the center of our relationship by leading us so well.

In May of this year, we finally went on the trip to Ireland we had signed up for back in September. I am not a fan of surprises so I 100% knew the proposal was coming. On May 13 Jonathan proposed in Rostrevor, Ireland on a little trail called the Fairy Glen in the pouring rain. It was so perfect and romantic and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I praise the Lord for how He has consistently provided for us throughout our relationship, making it possible for us to meet, giving us wisdom as we pursue each other, allowing for us to travel together, and now leading us into marriage!