"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

James 1:17

I met Mary Helen on July 21, 2023 playing pickleball with some of my friends. One of my roommates had invited her to come play with us, and I was very excited to have someone who seemed super cool and pretty come play with us. We played together and made a 10-4 comeback in a game to 11, and after that and some conversation with her, I was hooked. I waited a couple of months to make my move because she had said she wasn’t looking to date at that time, but I spent that time crushing on her and deciding when I would make my move. She came to play pickleball with us again once class started in August, and I had the privilege of driving her home, just the two of us. In that first one-on-one interaction, I realized how deep and genuine she is, and it was one of the best conversations I have ever had. I asked her out the next day, and she said yes!

Throughout the next 2 and a half years, Mary Helen and I became best friends, and I got the privilege of knowing her on such a deep and personal level. She continues to impress me everyday through her faithfulness to her friends and family, her hardworking and ambitious self, and her goofy and funny personality. More than anything: she embodies the two greatest commandments, to love God and love others, more than any single person I have ever met. She loves, and does it so deeply.

When Mary Helen’s mom told me this past July that we would be going to Turks and Caicos over the holidays, I knew this was too good of an opportunity to not propose. I had originally decided on December 22 (the last day of the trip), but I switched to December 18 because I couldn’t wait any longer and wanted to celebrate. I proposed to her on the beach 30 minutes after we got to our AirBnb. She said yes!

I am so excited to spend the rest of my life with the girl I love most, and I cannot wait for everyone to celebrate with us!

Clark and I met for the first time summer of 2023, between our sophomore and junior years of college at Samford University. I met one of his roommates at a church event, and he invited me to come play pickleball with some of his friends. I did not know any of the people who were going to be there, but I took the leap and decided to go! I was hoping to expand my Samford community and make friends outside my usual bubble, and this was the perfect opportunity. Some of the roommates picked me up on the way, and Clark was driving! I’ll never forget trying to make a good first impression on this car full of guys I had never met before, but they were all so kind and welcoming. I remember Clark asking me all kinds of questions and showing a genuine interest in getting to know me. Later that night, he asked me to play doubles with him in pickleball, and we had a huge come-from behind win. It was so fun, and I thought he was so cute! I ended up playing pickleball with that group a few more times, and he got my number and started up a conversation. We went on a couple of dates, I took him to my sorority’s date party, and we made it official in late September of 2023.

Throughout our years of dating, Clark and I have seen each other at our highest and our lowest. We have laughed until our stomachs hurt, and held each others’ hands through life’s challenges. Each twist and turn in our story has led us closer to each other and closer to the Lord, and eventually we came to realize that we want to spend our lives together. Clark asked me to marry him on December 18, 2025, when we had JUST arrived in Turks and Caicos with my family. I said yes, and we sat on the beach for a while, laughing and crying and jumping up and down and thanking God for each other.

Clark is the best person I know, and I am so thrilled that we get to spend our lives together. He is my biggest cheerleader and the most incredible listener. He is the best kind of goofy, and he prays for me constantly. He is going to be the most wonderful husband!

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever."

Psalm 118:1