I moved to Jacksonville after graduating college in May of 2023. I had no idea what to do with my summer, but I knew at the end of it I'd be moving to Nashville for the Fellows Program starting in late August. My grandparents kindly let me live with them for the summer as I was interning at their church in Children's Ministry, Christian Family Chapel (CFC). That in itself was a God thing, but then Colton got assigned to be my adult leader during CFC's one week ministry camp called Power-Up Clubs. For those of y'all that don't know what that is...sorry. It will probably be brought up a lot.

I was pretty nervous because I was a first time captain, and being in charge for the week was a big deal. The idea is kind of like a YoungLife club in that it's an outreach ministry. Anyway, Colton was super encouraging during that week and we became fast friends, having great conversations about the church and its role. That week was exhausting, and I followed it up by going immediately to Wyldlife camp with the group I had been with since Freshmen year. I had to truly rely on the Lord to get me through both of those weeks, and the fruit of that was evident in my ability to trust in Him completely with my present and my future.

Colton and I had been talking during the week I was away, and when I got back he asked me out on a date. At this point, I liked him but I wasn't sure that dating would be the best way to start my year in Nashville, so I hesitantly accepted with the preface that I wasn't really looking for a relationship. He took me on the best date ever!! And in the two weeks we had before I left for Nashville, I basically realized how much I liked him and that it was worth doing long distance. There was a lot of discernment during this time because emotions were high, and I didn't want to rush into anything. Eventually it was clear that Colton was willing to put in the work to make it happen. We made it official before I left, and I got to the Fellows Program only to realize that 6 out of the 8 girls would be doing long distance that year. If that's not the Lord's provision and confirmation, I don't know what is!

Over the past year and a half-ish, the Lord has been so faithful to us. He has given Colton the flexibility and the means to visit often, and provided me with school breaks and vacation days to visit him! It's been hard work, but at the same time it's the easiest thing in the world. I'm sure this is because the Lord has always been the center of our relationship.

This is the aspect of our wedding that I'm looking forward to most -- to celebrate what the Lord has done in each of our lives and to recognize how He has and will continue to graft us together in His love.

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.