We're finally getting married!

The first time Andy and I ever saw each other was on December 20, 2021, at Grace Baptist Church in Miami. Although we had seen each other before, we did not officially meet until August 7, 2022. At first, we were simply acquaintances. We would talk at church and occasionally play guitar together during the services, but that was all. In September of 2022, I started developing a little schoolgirl crush on him. At the time, his older brother worked at the school that his younger sister and I attended. Then on January 9, 2023, my parents began inviting his brother and sister over to our house for dinner every Monday night. Before long, Andy started coming too. As the weeks went by, our families grew closer and closer. Instead of only seeing each other on Sundays and Wednesdays at church, we now had Mondays together too. Those Monday nights quickly became the highlight of my week. Not only was my best friend coming over for dinner… but HE was too :) Then on February 13, 2023, Andy’s sister came to school and told me something that completely changed everything — he liked me too. From there, we started talking more and more, and on May 23, 2025, he officially asked me to be his girlfriend. Soon after, we faced a challenge we had to prepare for: long distance. From September 2025 through May 2026, I attended college in Indiana, nearly 1,400 miles away. Even though the distance was difficult, our relationship only grew stronger. Every phone call, every visit home, and every moment together became even more meaningful. I came home during Thanksgiving break from November 25 to December 2, 2025, and again for Christmas break from December 18, 2025, to January 6, 2026. Then on January 5, 2026, Andy told me the three words I had longed to hear: “I love you.” Through every mile between us, God continued to strengthen our relationship and draw us closer together. For our one-year anniversary, Andy took me to a beautiful restaurant called The Rusty Pelican. After lunch, we went for a walk down a peaceful pathway overlooking the water. In one unforgettable moment, he got down on one knee and asked me the four words I had dreamed of hearing for so long: “Will you marry me?” And of course… I said YES!!! We are beyond excited to begin this new chapter together and cannot wait to celebrate with all of you on our special day. Most of all, we are thankful for the Lord’s guidance and excited to see what He has planned for our future together.