It would be sweet to say we found love at first sight, but Meghan and I don’t actually remember the first time we met.

We met for the second time at a community group in Auburn that was meeting together during the summer to study the Bible. At one of the first gatherings, I specifically remember this girl in big overalls who was sitting on the couch opposite to me. She introduced herself with a story about how she convinced grade schoolers that she didn’t have a belly button. Little did I know, she would be my future wife.

After the group, Meghan and I had some conversations that were fun and intriguing, but I don’t think either of us thought too much about it. Neither of us really knew anyone in the community group. We were just looking to make friends.

As we continued getting to know each other that summer, it was clear that we got along well. Unfortunately, our interactions led to a lot of pressure to get coupled up, but I was hesitant. It was hard for me to discern my own feelings about Meghan when there was so much unsolicited input about how I should feel. Near the end of the summer, Meghan spent a week away from Auburn to be with family and for the first time, I had the space to process what I thought about her. I realized that I missed her, that I cared about her, and that I really enjoyed being with her.

Once she got back to Auburn, Meghan hosted a movie night at her house with all our friends from the summer. Afterwards, I stayed to help her clean up and, mysteriously, everyone disappeared. We talked for a couple hours about different things - I don’t remember what exactly - and then I asked her out for coffee when I was leaving.

Unlike me, Meghan knew exactly what she thought about “that boy,” Preston. We always say she has big, hard to miss feelings. She was ecstatic.

The next day, we got brunch and spent some time walking around campus. About a week later, we went to the fire tower at Smith Mountain. While we were picnicking and hanging out by the lake there, I told her how I felt about her and asked her to be my girlfriend. Afterwards, we went to the top of the fire tower, and I held her while we watched the sun set.

In the year and several months since then, I have fallen in love with her more and more each day. Together, we’ve been through a serious concussion, academic program, challenges, a major health scare. Mostly tragically, we’ve had to suffer through an Auburn football team that seems like it just can’t get its crap together. For every challenge that we’ve gone through, the Lord has stirred up a greater love for her in me. In 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Paul writes, “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” I can confidently say, that throughout our time together, Meghan has overflowed in these qualities and has challenged me to grow in them.

I look forward to getting to spend the rest of my life with her.

Registry

Thank you for considering gifting to Preston and I as we just moved into our new home in Kansas a week after our wedding! Please also check out our Walmart Registry. https://www.walmart.com/registry/WR/9c2a1a38-8de0-4799-a2e5-3d1d76dba36b