In 2020, two families booked vacations to Cancun, Mexico, unaware that this trip would change two young kids’ lives — and their families’ lives — forever. Jackson’s family — grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, his sibling, and his parents — planned to go to Mexico as a celebration for his late grandmother. The trip was scheduled for April 2020.At the same time, Maddie was invited to go to Mexico with her best friend Brylee’s family — his parents Brandon and Andrea, and his siblings Carter and Presley. Their trip was originally planned for spring break that year, March 2020. However, as we all experienced, the world changed suddenly with the arrival of COVID. The virus that quickly reshaped the world also led to changes in both families’ travel plans.Through divine intervention, both families rescheduled their trips and ended up arriving at the resort the exact week it reopened to the public. One night, Brylee and Maddie headed to the bar to try and pretend to be grown, but being only 16 at the time, they ordered Shirley Temples — which an equally young Jackson found hilarious. He walked up behind Maddie and said, “Shirley Temple? At the bar?” Maddie, not having a good comeback for something so obviously silly, did the only natural thing she could think of — she made fun of Jackson’s accent.And that’s how easily it started. From that point on, they were inseparable throughout the trip: sneaking into the pools after dark and walking along the beaches. Jackson was a little more forthcoming than Maddie and decided it’d be a good idea to tell her, on the way to the waterslide, “It’ll be crazy if we get married and this is the story of how we meet!” Maddie remembered thinking, “Goodness, this kid is insane. That’s not happening.” It’s a good thing she only thought that.On the trip, they exchanged every form of communication known at the time and kept in contact afterward, FaceTiming regularly and getting to know each other’s families. As we all know, life has a funny way of doing its own thing and taking us along for the ride. Jackson and Maddie stayed in and out of contact for years.In April of 2024, Jackson FaceTimed Maddie and told her he’d be traveling to Australia for the summer. Maddie, going through a transitional time in her life, was already considering an adventure of her own. With Jackson’s encouragement, she decided to go to Hawaii for the summer. Both of them set out on their adventures, gaining new experiences and wisdom along the way. By the Lord’s grace and will, the two returned home and began keeping in constant communication once again, sharing stories and forming a deeper emotional connection and friendship.Jackson insisted that they needed to meet in person again. Maddie, however, watches a lot of true crime and wasn’t going to agree without a few stipulations. But with Jackson’s charismatic words, a playful “contract” was made, and a flight was booked. Maddie was going to Texas to essentially “re-meet” Jackson.The week they spent together was filled with adventures around Texas and long talks about the future and what it could hold. What had always been clear — their natural draw toward one another — became undeniable. Their visits proved that distance would not stop them from being together. Through prayer and long conversations with family, they knew this was it. They had found the person they wanted to spend the rest of their lives with. Their story is a true testament that God’s plan is always greater.On July 23rd, in the mountains of Idaho, surrounded by family during a joyous backcountry trip, Jackson planned the perfect engagement and completely surprised his soon-to-be fiancée. Since that day, the two have been planning the big day, and along with their families, they are blessed and grateful to celebrate their love with you all on June 6th, 2026.With love,The Future Flynts