Our story began at Crest Bible Church in Merriam, KS. Jamie was already a member and Bree, Mila and her mother, Michelle, joined in February of 2022. Bree’s Perspective: Shortly after joining Crest I was quickly assured that this was where God wanted us. It felt like home. Everyone was wonderful and welcoming, but it’s a small church and everyone seemed to have families, so I never expected to meet anyone there, and I was truly content with that. A couple months after joining Crest, another church member, Bobbi, invited Mila and I on a church camping trip to Jamie Atwell’s land in Fredonia. At this point, Jamie and I only briefly met once before, so the connection that he was “Jamie Atwell” was not yet made (in fact, I really looked forward to meeting a sweet 80 year old man), and was pleasantly surprised when Jamie greeted us at the farm — in muck boots and sweatpants (I wouldn’t have had him any other way). That was one of the best weekends of my life and truly where our story and love for each other began to grow. I remember feeling a sweet nudge from God, and giggling, asking what He was up to. I didn’t quite know yet, but again, knew I was right where I was supposed to be. After a lovely weekend of spending time with the Lord, belly laughs, and exploring, Mila asked me on our way home “when are you and Jamie getting married?” … I obviously explained, after some initial shock, that people should get to know each other first, but looking back, girl had some insight, and clearly did not put limitations on the Lord like, ahem, her mother did. The Lord thankfully had other plans that outright superseded mine! After our camping weekend, there eventually came a first date, and you could say, the rest is history! Jamie’s Perspective: I was already prepared to be single for the rest of my life and I was finally okay with that. People have told me my whole life “you should just lower your standards”, “come to Church with us so you can meet a woman”. I started to believe that, but I was never going to settle. I have the best Bible teaching Church and I wasn’t going to switch Churches or my standards for anyone! Then I met Bree and Mila…. Everything changed. God brought them to my Church, and then to a camping trip at the farm. That weekend my heart was complete with both Mila and Bree. I remember driving up to the quarry in the early morning and seeing Bree having alone time with the Lord by the water. The sun was coming up, the water was still and she slowly got up to greet me….. it was all in slow motion. I was in love! I mean, how in the world could I get everything I have been looking for? It’s crazy!!….but God is so good even when we are not. We will be married on the land my grandfather, father, and one day my family will grow old on. It’s more than a special place with beauty all around it. It’s home….and we can’t wait to share this moment with our people.

On a crisp fall (the perfect season;)) morning, after exploring incredible castle ruins, we hiked the Ha Ha Tonka trail in the Ozarks, which we had mostly to ourselves! We crossed a beautiful bridge, overlooking the prettiest blue spring while listening to the song “Gratitude” by Brandon Lake. We stopped to take it all in… truly, filled to the brim with gratitude for how GOOD our God is and how incredible His creation is. Moments later, we approached one of the most gorgeous views of the spring— Jamie asked to use my camera to take a photo of me looking out at the spring … and when I turned around he was down on one knee. I said YES and made sure everyone who passed by knew we were engaged! We're so excited to celebrate this next chapter of becoming one flesh, with all of you — the people the Lord so lovingly and intentionally placed in our lives. See y’all on the farm!