Jake and I met in March of 2020. A little backstory - I went to high school at Lee Academy in Clarksdale, and Jake went to high school at Delta Academy in Marks. Delta was one of my high school’s “rivalry schools” when I played basketball. Jake also played basketball, and he was actually pretty good. So, I always knew of who he was, but we never actually crossed paths until our time at Ole Miss. I was in my sophomore year of college, and he was in his freshman year. Jake started snapchatting me one day and asked for my number. I remember the first time Jake tried to hang out with me, he was too scared. We were at the Hardy concert at the Lyric in Oxford. I was with my friends and sister and he was with his friend Hunter. He was texting me wanting to see me, but would never make his way to where I was. After that, we began talking on and off, with our first “date” finally being at Chili’s in Batesville - how romantic. Things just didn’t work out, and somehow it always seemed like “the right person, but the wrong time” until October of 2020, when we started hanging out again. My only explanation for this is the Lord himself. The Lord saw it fit for Jake and I to be led back together. I remember I was in Cleveland with my friend Gracie for the day getting my hair done. Jake randomly saw that I was in Cleveland, which is where he lived at this time, and immediately asked to see me. It took me awhile to say “yes” and give in to hanging out with him, but I am so glad that I did. We started dating pretty quickly, with Jake asking me to be his girlfriend after the second time of hanging out again. Then again the 3rd time we hung out, and the 4th, and the 5th, and so on. I held off for a little bit, stating over and over that I did not want to jump into things too quickly again. He was pretty adamant on the dating part and making it official, so after two weeks on November 15, 2020, I finally said “Yes!”. 


Our relationship has had its fair share of ups and downs. Jake was my first “real” relationship and by the time we started dating, he was in school in Cleveland at Delta State. Therefore, it took a lot of work, effort, and sacrifices. We learned to love each other the best way possible while being over two hours away from each other and grew as people while at it. We have grown to be each other’s best friend and each other’s biggest fan. Jake is the one I want standing beside me in my happiest moments and in my saddest. He’s the one I want to share my biggest triumphs and also my biggest upsets. 


On December 23, 2023, Jake asked me to be his wife on his family’s farm. It was such a special day that I will remember and cherish forever. December 23rd was the day that my grandfather passed away in 2017, and I know he was beaming with pride for the guy that the Lord sent for me to marry. On December 7, 2024, Jake and I will join hands to be one. My grandmother lost her fight to cancer on December 7, 2019. These dates are very special and sentimental to me and now will forever have an even more beautiful meaning.


It is by God’s grace and mercy that I get to do this crazy thing called life with this man. I could not have hand picked a better man for me to marry. I am eternally grateful for the love we share, and I pray the Lord continues to bless our love for each other and bless our marriage. I pray daily that our love only continues to grow for each other and for the Lord.