We first met in 2015 at First Baptist Church of Barnesville, where we were both part of the youth group. A year later, on August 25, 2016, Connor asked me to be his girlfriend in the parking lot, after an LCHS softball practice. Our very first date was a picnic at Summers Field in Barnesville, we shared a blazing chicken spud from Big Chic (iykyk) and from that moment on, we were inseparable.

We cherished every second of our time together during that first year, knowing change was just around the corner. In August 2017, Connor left for boot camp with the United States Marine Corps. At the time, we had no idea what the future would hold. While he was stationed at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, I stayed in Georgia to finish college at GSC. Our visits were few and far between, but we soaked up every moment we had. It was incredibly hard, but through it all, we held tightly to each other and to the belief that God was writing our story with purpose.

In 2022, I made the decision to move to Saint Augustine to live with my sister, which meant more long-distance. But, in a way only God could orchestrate, this season turned into a blessing. Around that same time, Connor stopped traveling for work and decided to move to Florida, too. He found a beautiful little piece of land in Leesburg FL, where we’ll begin our next chapter together after the wedding.

We’re so thankful for every person who’s played a part in our journey—through the hardest goodbyes and the sweetest hellos. We are each other’s best friend. It hasn’t always been easy, but it has always been worth it. And now, we can’t wait to step into forever—together.

M&C