Our families met at church 8 years ago, but we never got to know each other. Abby was out for quite some time with a broken leg and then moved back to her hometown of Knoxville to pursue cosmetology. During this time, she left her first love of Jesus. But not for long. In 2022, Jesus wooed her back into His loving arms and, in turn, back to her beloved family in middle Tennessee - and her future husband. Her first day back at Mercy Collective Church in Franklin, Isaiah was on stage playing guitar (WOAH!) and in popped the thought "he is the finest man I have ever seen". Still, months past without an official introduction, and the first one was in the midst of Isaiah's church cleanup... for anyone who knows him, this is not the best time to try to start a convo. In November of that year, Abigail finally gave into the Holy Spirit's persistent nudging to visit Isaiah's Sunday church, Grace Center (now Wellspring). There, we had many late night convos and countless hours in the parking lot of Abigail asking Isaiah a million questions about the Holy Scriptures which were, for the first time, coming fully alive to her. This is also where the term 'debriefing' came about as Isaiah's response to parking lot manager, Lane's, questioning our endless time together after services. While it was true that we were discussing whatever service we had just attended and how Jesus had touched us, it was also obvious that something deeper was forming... to everyone but Isaiah. The Lord in all His graciousness kept a covering over Isaiah's eyes to allow this friendship to form that went far beyond surface level infatuation. After leading countless worship + prayer sets together, taking multiple family road trips together, and encountering Lord Jesus in unexplainable ways time after time, it became clear that there was a special connection here far outside anything we could create on our own. Finally, in late March 2025, a year and a half had passed of Abigail praying and asking the Lord about Isaiah. Although thinking she heard the Lord speak very specifically about him being her husband, and even seeing Jesus walk them down the aisle in a vision she didn't ask for, she gave it all up in her hammock between two trees at Harlinsdale Farm. The very next day, Isaiah pulled her aside at church and said "you might want to sit down for this one". He then continued on, "The Lord has always made it very clear that you were just a friend to me. But last Monday during the relationships panel at young adults, the Lord gave me peace to think something different. I've fasted and prayed and had conversations about this all week and decided you're too valuable for me to lose and I don't want to do life without you." Abigail responded, "What are you asking me?" Isaiah's response is one that seemingly shook heaven and earth, and Abigail's stomach, "Ultimately, I'm asking you to marry me." After 3 roller coaster days of excitement and nervousness, Abigail felt the Holy Spirit confirm and remind her that this is all she wanted. So, we had another long, late night conversation - very on par for us - and for the first time said our vows. Come hell or high water, this is it. This is us. Engaged without a ring, and having never officially dated before, there was lots of faith involved on both sides. Very quickly, Jesus began to reveal His love and how He sees each of us through our own love and admiration for each other, healing lots of wounds from our pasts apart. In early June, we had our first premarital counseling session and Isaiah had a secret up his sleeve... actually, in his pocket. We then went on a surprise date to our new favorite together spot, Harlinsdale Farm, to a picnic he had Abigail's best friends set up - unknowingly between the same two trees where she surrendered Isaiah to the Lord. With the prettiest ring, he asked again to have her in marriage. This time, she instantly said "of course I'll marry you!" Now for the happily ever after...