I remember when I first saw Taylor during the summer I came back to Midland from living in Killeen. I was in the McGraw gym at Midland Christian working out one of the returning basketball players and Taylor was moving stuff around getting ready for the upcoming volleyball season. To say the least I was very intrigued in who she was and her current availability but in typical fashion I slow-played my way into gaining that information.

Eventually I took the big step and added her on social media. She was the first to send me a direct message (no surprise there). Once we started talking to one another it was both of our priorities as neither of us wanted to stop. I remember us going on our first date at Bubbas here in Midland almost immediately after one of our home basketball games. I was as nervous as I could be and I remember ordering way too much food for how late it was that night not realizing I would end up taking a lot of it back home with me. Apparently I overlooked a lot of clues Taylor was giving me but when I walked her out to her car at the end of our meal I was pretty sure she wasnt interested at all in kissing, so I gave her a hug goodbye, told her to get back home safe and to text me once she made it back knowing we would talk again.

Fast forward to when she wanted me to work her volleyball camp (why she wanted me to work it I had NO idea). I knew absolutely nothing about volleyball, literally nothing. Clearly she was interested in me but I took her asking me to help at face value and so I felt out of place early on. But I remember seeing her in her element and how she worked with those athletes and it was such an awesome experience for me because I was able to see her do what she does best. It was through moments like these where I started to really fall for Taylor. Full disclosure, I did not work that camp to help kids get better at volleyball. I was there to hang out with Taylor.

We were flirting for some time and then the covid pandemic hit. Once schools and businesses shut down we obviously werent spending any time together as we were as unsure about how to go about daily life as everyone else was. But throughout it all we were checking on one another, each others families and athletes as well. As the pandemic started to settle down in June 2020 Jeremiah, Doug and I decided to get together in Tennessee in order to spend some time together. Jeremiah, Doug and Johnny know everything about me. They were all aware of Taylor and the time Ive spent with her. While Jeremiah and I were on a late night drive from Midland to Little Rock, Arkansas we talked about our lives and what it was we were looking for and the direction we were both headed. After some reflection and time thinking about the direction my life was going I very quickly realized everything that I had been asking for and wanting was right in front of me.

August 1, 2020 I invited Taylor back to my apartment and made it clear that I was wanting to move forward with her and for us to become a couple and start dating exclusively.

As long as it took me to finally get to that point I wouldnt change the timing if I had the chance. God does nothing by accident and it was the right time and the perfect moment for Taylor and I to officially start our life long journey together.

After dating for a few years and going back and forth with myself on when the best time to propose would be and where to do it, I figured there is no better place than our home and no greater surprise than to act as if Im out of town when Taylor is coming home from an emotional weekend due to volleyball only to find out that I am about to ask her to marry me. With much needed help from Avery I had it all ready as I paced back and forth from our living room to our bedroom for what seemed like hours on end trying to communicate with Avery, and Mr. Clark about where Taylor was and when she would be getting home. Everything worked out just as I hoped as Taylor opened the door to our apartment to find flowers, signs and me getting on one knee to ask her to spend the rest of our lives together.

I am not the best at planning nor am I always on time with things but how Taylor and I met, our journey through the early stages of our friendship which led to our relationship now turned engagement and soon to be our marriage, could not have been put together more beautifully. 6/8/24 is our wedding day (and has both of Kobes jersey numbers FYI) and we are thrilled to have you join us to celebrate!

Photos