oh my... this story is long, so here we go.

Transferring into Westminster High School in Rock Hill, Mattie Jane, a soon to be 9th grader, attended freshman orientation a couple weeks before school started. This when she met Matthew, a student council representative greeting new students. Not to say it was love at first sight, but there certainly was interest from the very beginning. During the next couple of years, they grew closer and closer. By junior year Matthew decided it was time to become official, so on December 22nd 2019, Matthew asked Mattie Jane to be his girlfriend. They continued to develop individually while intentionally defining their relationship.

After graduating from high school, they navigated their first semester of college apart, Matthew in St. Augustine, FL and Mattie Jane in Clemson, SC. Eventually Matthew transferred to Clemson and they continued to define themselves and their relationship. While at Clemson they enjoyed tailgating at football games with family and friends, attending church services at NewSpring, walking on the dykes with their dog Daisy, working out at Max Fitness, and experiencing life as Clemson Tigers!

Outside of Clemson University they share lots of time with both families. Whether it's beach trips to Edisto with the Moores or vacations to Florida with the Sheleys, boat rides on Lake Wylie or lake days on Wateree, holidays with extended family or ordinary days at home, Matthew and Mattie Jane cherish time with the people they love.

Now, I realize that good stories usually have an element of drama or a twisted plot, and I hate to disappoint, but this story is simply smooth and happy. They never broke up, they really don't fight, and they actually just love their time together. The beauty and excitement of their story is the steadfast, consistency of their love.

So, in the natural order of things, the summer before their senior year at Clemson, Matthew proposed to Mattie Jane in her front yard. Guess what...she said YES!

And they now look forward to sharing their engagement and wedding with all the people they love!