Our Story

We met during the interview process for Samford's University Fellows program in Spring 2019. Before pharmacy school, we shared many undergraduate classes, which we both retrospectively enjoyed.

Fall 2021: We started studying together, both as a group and by ourselves, during our first semester of pharmacy school. It was definitely nice to have a familiar face during the big transition.

Fall 2021: Jacob had never played "Old Maid" before, so I had to get him a deck because it was my favorite game growing up.

Fall 2021: We often found ourselves having fun while studying. It became our tradition to take a picture with our study board and point to our favorite fact. I know, we're nerds.

Winter 2021: When we weren't studying, you could've found us walking the halls or coming up with silly ideas to pass the time. This was one of those ideas: an awkward Christmas card.

Winter 2021: With one semester of graduate school completed, we definitely found our groove as study partners, and left for home feeling optimistic about the next semester.

Winter 2022: We started dating in January after coming back from a Christmas break. This is one of our first dates to the farmer’s market!

Spring 2022: Our early relationship was filled with study dates, fun outings, and getting to know each other!

Spring 2022: We had the privilege to travel to Italy together for a school trip, a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Spring 2022: We got to visit Rome, Pompeii, Florence, and Tívoli. We also got to catch some amazing views and celebrate 4 months of dating overseas.

Spring 2022: We had the opportunity to visit the oldest pharmacy in the world, which is just fitting for our careers.

Spring 2022: We rounded out our time in Italy by visiting Orbetello, Palermo, and Positano. We were so blessed to have had this amazing experience while we first started dating.

Summer 2022: Hometown visits! We got to explore the towns of Gallatin and Jacksonville together, enjoying coffee shop runs, drive-ins, and local restaurants.

Summer 2022: We hiked Cheaha mountain together for the first time. It was really fun and pretty but also really hot.

Fall 2022: We started our second year of pharmacy school and restarted our study dates.

Fall 2022: We fortunately found some time in our schedule to travel to Gatlinburg with AnLi’s family for the weekend.

Fall 2022: When we weren’t studying, we were usually outside getting some fresh air and enjoying the fall weather. This is in Vestavia Hills across from a scenic lookout.

Fall 2022: Our first Thanksgiving together. We enjoyed turkey, family time, and being with each other.

Winter 2022: The Christmas card tradition continues. This year, we had help from a special guest, and took pictures throughout the College of Health Sciences building.

Winter 2022: Our first Christmas together came with a dusting of snow!

Winter 2023: We celebrated 1 year together and started the second semester of classes. Looking back, our first year together was filled with excitement and new beginnings.

Spring 2023: Again, we tried to find time to enjoy the outdoors when we weren’t studying. This day included a walk in Mountain Brook and a date to Jeni’s Ice Cream.

Spring 2023: We found ourselves doing fun projects with friends, whether that be putting whiteboards together or removing unwanted furniture. Operation BAC removal.

Spring 2023: This weekend was right before a major antibiotics exam, so we had to sneak away for a sweet treat during our brutal studying schedule.

Spring 2023: We were blessed to be recognized and inducted into the Rho Chi Beta Beta Chapter. Jacob was later elected President for the upcoming academic year, which was exciting.

Spring 2023: Some moments are just laughable in retrospect. This is us on our way to a health screening when we realized Jacob had a flat tire.

Spring 2023: The last few days of undergraduate class status! We loved finding places with pretty views while in Birmingham. This is one in Vestavia Hills.

Summer 2023: We were blessed to graduate with a Bachelors in Pharmaceutical Sciences together, marking the end of our undergraduate status and halfway mark of our pharmacy school studies.

Summer 2023: Our graduation was the first time our families met each other. It was great to see to see familiar faces and to watch people meet for the first time.

Summer 2023: Another family vacation! This time it was at Panama City Beach, Florida with Jacob’s family. This picture was taken before we devoured pasta and chocolate dessert.

Summer 2023: One of our favorite memories from this trip is when we watched the sun set after a day full of sun bathing, soccer, and walking up the coast.

Summer 2023: We had the opportunity to travel to Honduras with First Baptist Church Jacksonville to share the Gospel and provide medical services. It was a great time of reflection and fellowship.

Summer 2023: In Honduras, we primarily served in the pharmacy, filling medical orders and providing rice and beans. It was great to be able to provide people with their physical and spiritual needs.

Summer 2023: We met some incredible people during this trip, some that we still talk with occasionally.

Summer 2023: Another hometown date to Jacksonville! This time we hiked down to see Noccalula Falls. So cool!

Summer 2023: We love summer days and having time off to spend with each other.

Fall 2023: Cooler weather means we take advantage of the farmer’s market. We got some homemade shortcake which was delicious!

Fall 2023: Pumpkin painting, hot coffee, and slow mornings make for a great time.

Fall 2023: Our second Thanksgiving together! It makes us sentimental to reflect on all the happy memories during this busy time.

Winter 2023: Christmastime! It’s such a joyful time to visit with family and loved ones.

Winter 2024: Our Pining Ceremony, which marks the end of our didactic classes and the beginning of our rotations. It was a bittersweet time as we wouldn’t see our friends in the classroom regularly.

Winter 2024: Even though rotations have started, we still tried to find time to visit with family and friends.

Spring 2024: We were able to take a weekend retreat to the mountains in Georgia with some friends, which was so relaxing and much needed.

Spring 2024: We just had completed our first rotation for pharmacy school. We were able to have our first two rotations together, which was relieving during this new transition.

Spring 2024: The start of the weddings for this year. We love celebrating our friends!

Summer 2024: The weddings continue! It’s great to celebrate love from lifelong friends.

Summer 2024: Our rotations are in full swing! With all the craziness, it’s hard to make time with family, so when we can, we take every opportunity we can.

Summer 2024: We traveled down to the beach for Labor Day weekend with a friend. We got to enjoy the beach and the start of football season!

Fall 2024: More weddings! We both were able to stand and watch and celebrate the bride and groom.

Fall 2024: Heavy rotation schedules meant we weren’t able to talk or hang out as much. Little did AnLi know that Jacob was ring shopping and planning surprises.

Winter: Jacob proposed on December 8th, just a little over one month shy of celebrating 3 years together. We both were so excited and shed a few happy tears.

Winter 2024: Jacob surprised AnLi right after church service at her home church. We’re blessed to be able to get married at the same church in February 2026.

Winter 2024: Jacob did so good with the ring selection! It was everything AnLi envisioned and more!

Winter 2024: The backstory behind Jacob picking up the ring is pretty comical. AnLi was in town with Jacob, so Jacob’s parents had to do a little distracting.

Winter 2024: Jacob also surprised AnLi with having a friend from her high school photograph the big moment. It was so sweet to catch up, and we’re so blessed to have her at our wedding too!

Winter 2024: Our first Holiday engaged. It was so sentimental to celebrate together and begin planning our Wedding day.

Winter 2025: After celebrating our 3-year anniversary together, we celebrated our engagement with our families and close friends. We appreciate everyone who came and everyone who helped plan it!

Spring 2025: After finishing rotations and classes, we arrived at graduation. It was bittersweet to say goodbye to our friends and colleagues and to Samford, as we grew to truly love Birmingham!

Spring 2025: While it was sad to leave Birmingham, it’s exciting to start our careers after studying for the last six years. We both became community pharmacists in Tennessee and Alabama.

Summer 2025: We took our engagement pictures at the beautiful state capitol of Tennessee!

Summer 2025: We got to see our photographer and friend (@pj.photographyy_) again! We can’t wait to showcase her talent throughout this season.

Summer 2025: In the beautiful in-between of yes and always, we have found ourselves in the sweetest moments!

Summer 2025: This engagement season has been a quiet grace, a pause and preparation filled with time to love even more fully and to enjoy the precious present just as much as future we await.

Summer 2025: We are so excited to celebrate with you in February!!! See you in Nashville!