This is the oldest picture of us together! I already knew who Maegan was from Mercer's incoming freshman Facebook page, and thought she seemed really cool. This semester, we begun building the foundation of our strong friendship, by attending church and on-campus religious events together (the picture shown is a church Christmas party). Dating was not anywhere on our minds yet, we were just enjoying getting to know each other.

This is a very comedic photo of us at RUF Corn Party. We are very awkwardly (who recommended this pose?) taking a photo in our respective costumes. Our friendship by this point had solidified a lot, and we were constantly creating hilarious, joy-filled memories such as seen here, as we continued existing in college life together. Unbeknownst to me, Maegan had also begun developing a crush on me at this point.

Maegan and I's friendship continued growing, and I remained oblivious to the fact that she wished we were more than friends. However, God was growing both of us as individuals, and sovereignly working and preparing us in our friendship for just the right time for our affection to grow.

RUF Summer Conferences were always times when Maegan and I felt we bonded a lot, whether it was by talking in southern accents, playing fishbowl, or body surfing (me watching her surf that is). By this point, I knew that I was feeling the beginnings of more-than-friends affection for Maegan as well.

Senior year of college arrived, and Maegan and I had both grown a lot, and were very different people from our freshman year selves. On this Labor Day trip to Warm Springs, Georgia, I couldn't stop thinking about how cute I thought Maegan's outfit was. After this day, I strongly considered asking her out but I ended up chickening out...

On September 11, 2024, Maegan came over to my roommates and I's house to "read a book on our porch." I went inside briefly to put clean sheets onto my bed, and she asked to use my restroom. When she came out of the bathroom, she had a really weird look on her face, as if she was terrified. Two seconds later I figured out why, as she stammered out the question she had been prepping: "I've been thinking about this for a long time, and I don't know if you'd be interested or not, but I was wondering if maybe you'd possibly want to go on a date sometime." This threw me off guard and (according to Maegan) I awkwardly replied: "Me and you?" Thus began our dating period. We first got breakfast at Macon Bagels, then had a picnic second date at Tatnall Square Park, then had a hiking third date at High Falls (pictured here). I pretty much knew I was going to ask Maegan to be my girlfriend after the second date. I enjoyed spending more and more time with her and fell in love with her laugh, infectious smile and fun personality, and genuine empathy and kindness.

Then came our fourth date, where we spent the day at the Perry Fair (unfortunately this is our only picture from this day, I guess we were too busy enjoying each other's company). After riding the sky buckets, watching animal shows, and trying not to get sunburnt, we took a break to sit on a hay bale and share a funnel cake. It was then that I finally asked Maegan to be my girlfriend. Obviously, she said yes.

Our first picture together as an official couple (RUF Fall Conference).

One of our many picnic dates at Tatnall Square Park. This became a very special spot to us.

Our New Years' trip to Helen, Georgia. This is when we finally told each other we loved each other (Maegan said it first).

I may look fine in this photo, but at this half marathon, I contracted early stages of hypothermia. However, I truly knew Maegan loved me because she gave me her socks to warm me up. She was scared for my life, but I survived.

Our trip to the Tennessee Aquarium! It was on this trip that I thought to myself, "yep, I wanna marry her."

Getting to graduate together was a very full circle moment. We started college as friends, and got to finish as a couple! (just look at her cute face here)

This summer, Maegan traveled to Tanzania for a Mercer on Mission, and this was the longest we had gone without seeing each other since dating (a little over a month). Before she left, we soaked in every last minute, going to weddings, traveling the state, and seeing each other's families. While she was gone, I secretly (so I thought) asked her Dad for her hand in marriage!

The day finally came, and I was NERVOUS. Seth helped me trick Maegan into thinking our trip to Mercer Village was simply to get lunch with a couple from church. When we arrived however, Maegan thought we were walking around Tatnall as we waited for the couple to arrive. Maegan wanted to take a sitting break on a bench at first, but I forced her to keep walking. But as we walked, I pointed through the trees at a mysterious blanket, flowers, and sign set up in the grass with nobody attending it...Then I popped the question (whilst shaking uncontrollably)! Obviously, she said yes!!!

As we look towards our wedding, we are thankful for everyone's prayers and encouragement, and cannot wait to celebrate our special day with all of our favorite people. We are excited for what God has in store for our future!