We’re getting married!!

We met at Taco Bell (which we say as a joke, but is partly true). In the spring of 2014, we had both just begun to attend Briarcliff Church. I was in the youth group and he had just graduated high school and was still close friends with the then youth pastor, Matt's groomsman, Andy Sander. Taco Bell had just launched their new breakfast menu and Andy got some students together, myself included, to get some breakfast before church. Matt was there and that was when I saw him for the first time. It wasn’t love at first sight by any means, but in the months that followed, I was drawn to his character, his passion for the Lord, and his energy. I grew interested. Fast forward a few months, I was at summer camp with the youth group and I was talking with some other students (Claudia Smith and Leia Fonseca) and the girls chaperone on the trip (Jeanne Smith). I said something to the effect of "Matt is cool, I could see something maybe happening with him and I... but don't tell anybody please." I will forever be grateful that they did not listen to me that day. As soon as we got back from camp, the next time they saw Matt, they told him about me and what I said and encouraged him to pursue me. There were a lot of times that summer where he arranged hang outs with all our friends just so he could see me. We had the chance to get to know each other here and there, but after the summer, I moved to Missouri State University to begin my college career and it was texting from there on out while I was away. He did make the trip to visit me twice and we grew closer and closer with each visit, but still no relationship was defined.

Over Thanksgiving break when I was home, we went to the Country Club Plaza without any plans of what we were going to do or where we would eat. We tried to put our name in at a couple different places, but they were all packed because of the holidays. We ended up going to Winstead's for grilled cheese and onion rings. Matt sees it as kind of a flop, but to this day that date is one of my favorite memories. I came home for winter break and we were able to communicate and meet up more often over the long break. He took me out on a date to Seasons 52 on the Plaza and we had a great time. I don’t know how he felt, but I felt so grown up, almost like a fish out of water or a lost kid in this high scale restaurant. He seemed kind of nervous but nothing really happened and the night came to an end. I didn't know him well enough to guess or assume anything, but I later found out that he was trying to ask me to be his girlfriend that night and got nervous. A couple nights later, we went to Chipotle after a Christmas party. He told me he really liked me and enjoyed spending time with me and asked me to officially be his girlfriend. He gave me a beautiful necklace as a Christmas present and to go with the question. How could I say no? The last four years being his girlfriend have been so special, we have both learned so much about each other, and I’m so thankful for him. He truly knows me better than I know myself. He is able to see past my emotional tendencies to get to the bottom of why I think and act the way I do. He is so so handsome and smart and kind and generous and understanding and I don't know how I got so lucky. We’ve talked about marriage for years now. It was a desire in both of our hearts, but the timing never worked out until recently.

On our fourth anniversary of dating, we went down to the Plaza where our relationship (almost) began for dinner and a movie. We had a lovely dinner at McCormick and Schmick’s and enjoyed each other's company and reflected on our relationship. It was a pretty perfect date in my eyes. He was looking handsome and we had great conversation and it felt so natural and fun. We walked on the Plaza after dinner, shopped a little, and I thought that we were headed to the movie theater (or so he lead me to believe), but Matt said he wanted to stop by a shop that was on the other side of the Plaza by the riverwalk. We get there and the shop isn’t there anymore. Matt seems a little thrown off, but I assumed he was bummed about his favorite window shopping store being closed. So we rather abruptly cross the street and go to look at the water on the riverwalk. It was beautiful and such a sweet moment. He starts to talk about the good times and many date nights we’ve had on the Plaza, good and bad. He pauses for a moment and out of the corner of my eye I can see him getting a little shifty and nervous. In my head I tell myself to calm down, not assume anything, and not ruin the moment if what I think is happening is actually happening. He reaches in his pocket, gets down on one knee, and asks me to be his wife and I could not have said yes faster. During our dinner that night, I felt so content and grateful for how God has carried us throughout our relationship and for how we have grown so close. Every plan that we had attempted to make for our lives before we had met simply refused to work out and led us to trusting God with what He had planned for us. The toughest of life circumstances have led me to my greatest earthly treasure and best friend. We are so eager and excited to be married and celebrate with you, our favorite people, as we embark on the adventure of a lifetime. I can not over-emphasize how much I am #Stoked2BFults