What Maddie and I have known from the beginning is how important it is to remember God as the author and core of this relationship. From our beginnings as friends sharing a team in ministry and outreach, to now prepping for a wedding, He is and always will be at the heart of what we share.

We’d first gotten to know each other when we were paired together on a team for ministry/outreach. Here was a place where I think the Lord had provided such a beautiful way for us to get to know each others’ hearts. I’d quickly grown to appreciate the way Maddie led so courageously in an intense week of ministry where everything was entirely new to her. She was steadfast and put so much trust in the Lord’s guidance every step of the way. If we’re being honest here, it was not very long before I was head-over-heels. She was beautiful, sweet, intentional and so strong. I knew by the end of this week that I wouldn’t mind sticking around and seeing where her journey led her after this week was over.

With little time before she would be moving to Nashville, she kindly accepted my invitation to what was very much a date. I did not want to get in the way of what the Lord had planned for her life, but I very much wanted to be a part of it. Neither of us knew how this would work, but communication and opening up was such a gift. We had begun dating a couple weeks before she would be off to Nashville and we would begin two years of long distance.

Through this time I have come to love her more and more every single day. She communicated well and always pushed me closer to the Lord. Through out this time we maintained that God was the foundation of our relationship and through that we were able to thrive, even at such a great distance. I was blessed to be able to maintain a flexible schedule with work, that would allow me to see her nearly any time I wanted. I’ve come to appreciate her heart for the Lord and the people she cares about and I am grateful to be one of them.

As our story continues, I cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store. He’s provided me one of my most cherished gifts in Maddie. I have seen how He has orchestrated every little part of this relationship and I am grateful for every part of it. I look forward to seeing what our future has in store and the ways that we continue to grow.

M&C

Wedding Day

Reception