Braxton & I met the summer after freshman year. I was back in Jasper & it was my first time being in the college Sunday School class. I didn’t go much (sorry Matt!) … until my friends Lindsey, Hannah, & Destiny told me about a cute new boy who was coming. So like any good single Baptist woman would, I started going. Matt & Lindsey were moving & asked us college kids to help. Our group spent so much time together that summer. We helped move, met to play basketball, ate together, & found community in one another. BP & I formed a friendship, but it was not until we took a mission trip to Poughkeepsie that we truly got to know each other. We sat together on the planes & talked the whole time about our family memories, friends at college, growing up – hours & hours. There were two weeks left until I was going to Auburn & Braxton was going to Mobile. I had strong feelings for BP but didn't know if they were reciprocated - until the day after the trip. We spontaneously went to Cincinnati with Hannah, Destiny, & Noah Runyan. On the way back at 2 AM, BP & I held hands in the back seat (so cheesy it physically hurts). For the days following, we were inseparable. Our first “official” date was August 5th, the day before I went back to Auburn. We knew we were going to have a "defining the relationship" talk & put it off until we were back home. Sitting at a stop sign in downtown Jasper, he said to me, “We have three options. We can call it a summer fling and be friends, we can try again at break and see what comes of it, or we can do long distance. & I don't want to do the first two.” It was a leap of faith getting in a relationship with this boy that I did not know existed until mid-June of that summer. It was a leap of faith saying yes to long-distance when just starting out our relationship. It was a leap of faith getting in a relationship with the boy that I had still had so much to learn about. Thank goodness for that leap of faith. Here’s to many, many more. - Bonnie

Bonnie & I realized early in our relationship that we love to be outdoors together. Our all time favorite spot is Sougahoagdee Falls. I wanted to propose there but didn’t see a chance… until her fall break plans fell through. Bon had a busy October schedule & was not going to come home, but with some subtle hints & a push from CJ, she left for Jasper Tuesday after work. I wanted to make sure the day we got engaged was perfect. A week before the proposal, I went to Bankhead to hike the trail. I checked the waterfall flow, spots for photographers to hide, & what the hike was like at 80°. I knew this was the place. The days leading up to Bon coming home crept by SO slowly. I passed time with a special project: designing & crafting a wooden ring box with the help of Bonnie's grandad. Bon let me plan Saturday completely, filling the day with things we love: coffee, Bankhead, & pumpkin patches. (We don’t love pumpkin patches. This idea was to throw her off from a surprise party.) The timing had to be just right. Two top notch photographers (Hannah & Destiny) left Jasper at 10 AM to hike in. We had a breakfast date & then stopped by Lavish Coffee Bar to waste time. It was a great distraction & gave them enough time to get ready before we hiked. The day was perfect. The temp had dropped 20° overnight & there was no rain. The waterfall was running after many weeks being dry. Bon was taking FOREVER to hike because she kept stopping to admire her surroundings. When we got there, I wanted to find the perfect transition to propose. I botched the smoothest transition ever when she asked me to bring her a huge rock to sit on. Sitting there, Bon had her arms wrapped around me & my heart was racing. She got up & set up her phone to take a picture. I held the ring box tightly in my hand behind my back. When she was about to walk away to check the picture, I took her hand & asked her to marry me. What I said is special to us. All that matters is that she said, “Yes!” - BP