the jacksons

Kyla and I met during the second semester of our Freshman year at UGA. Kyla had just returned to school after an unexpected cancer diagnosis, an extremely invasive surgery, and several months of recovery learning to walk and live again in the wake of such a life-shattering series of events. I, oblivious, was immediately lovestruck with the beautiful girl on crutches that just seemed to appear out of nowhere on the couch of my friend’s dorm room, but soon pushed those feelings aside, deciding that Kyla was just “out of my league.” Over the course of that semester, our friendship grew and as I learned Kyla’s story, I grew to admire her more and more. Not just her courage and strength, but also her presence, loyalty, and resilient joy. We hung out in group settings, talking in dining halls, dorm rooms, and watching Lego Batman in a house our friend was house sitting. When the end of semester Phi Slam Date Night approached, our friendship had blossomed to the point where it was only natural that I ask Kyla to go with me, just as friends of course! This is where the plot thickened dramatically. Sitting on a bench with one of my best friends, he turned to me and said, “I know what’s really going on between you and Kyla.” My confusion soon turned to bemused laughter as I learned that Kyla, back in Augusta shopping for a date night dress, had found evidence that my mom was in her parents' wedding! A quick phone call home soon confirmed that our parents did in fact know each other and that, for my mom, Kyla’s mom had played a key role in her story with Jesus! This crazy coincidence was something to laugh at then, but was one of the first signs that our relationship was maybe meant for more than just a freshman year friendship. The date night itself came and went uneventfully, and then, big dummy that I am, I immediately left to spend the summer working at Camp Highland, leaving Kyla and any blossoming feelings of mutual attraction far behind. Over the summer, I felt the Lord begin to whisper that I was ready to pursue a dating relationship, and, on my return to Athens, after expressing this to a friend, he uttered a life changing sentence: “Canon, I can get you into a relationship in 9 days.” I was shocked, and even more shocked that Kyla, the girl that I had thought was worlds too pretty, intelligent, and awesome for me, had expressed interest in me over the summer. And after a month of stealing conversations after Phi Slam events and birthday parties, I finally asked Kyla on our first date halfway through September. We went on 3 dates in 2 weeks, and spent every night between just talking in her car until, on September 28th, I asked Kyla to be my girlfriend over a dinner for two prepared and served by my roommates. This launched us into the tremendous journey of dating and a litany of stories too long to share here. Kyla and I, despite our many car convos, were almost strangers when we started dating. But over the course of these two years I have gotten to know and be known in such a wonderfully deep way. I feel honored to have walked with Kyla through seasons of service, anxiety, depression, joy, busyness, peace, and triumph. Kyla, in so many ways, has taught me what love truly is. And I cannot overstate my excitement to get to spend the rest of my life growing closer, learning deeper, and loving Jesus alongside such a worthy partner. -Canon