we're getting married!

Joshua & Ashlyn met their freshman year of college at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor through a mutual friend when they were trying out churches in the area. At first, Joshua thought that Ashlyn didn't like him because she was so quiet (he has since learned she can be very talkative!). But as time went on, they got to be friends. At the beginning of April of 2022, a friend pushed Joshua to ask Ashlyn to go to formal with him, & Ashlyn said yes. Then they went on their first date on April 8th. Finally, on April 28th, Joshua asked Ashlyn to be his girlfriend, & she said yes! Two years later, on April 6th, 2024, after many adventures, laughs, & challenges, Joshua proposed to Ashlyn in a field full of wildflowers, & of course she said yes. They couldn't imagine going through life with anyone else, & they are excited for their future together. They can't wait to celebrate on May 24th & to experience the gift of marriage together. Ashlyn & Joshua, above all, want their marriage to be a picture of Christ's love & faithfulness. They are both looking forward to seeing how the Lord will lead them in this new season! Their prayer for their marriage is that God will always remain at the center & that they can fall deeper in love with each other every day.

After months of careful planning, finding the perfect ring, & receiving Ashlyn's parents' blessing, the long-awaited Saturday arrived. Joshua picked Ashlyn up in the evening with a bouquet of flowers for a yummy Italian dinner. After dinner, they went to a beautiful wildflower field. Ashlyn thought that they were just there for selfies & to enjoy the beauty of the sky & the colorful flowers. However, it was then that Joshua got down on his knee, as he read a sweet note to Ashlyn, asking if she would marry him. Overcome with emotion, Ashlyn immediately started crying tears of joy, whispering a soft “yes.” Joshua had thoughtfully arranged for a friend to take photos of the engagement! Following the proposal, they FaceTimed Ashlyn's & then Joshua's families to share their incredible news. After that, Joshua had one more surprise for Ashlyn—a surprise engagement party with their closest friends, a testament to their shared happiness. Reflecting on the day, Joshua expressed gratitude, saying that he saw God’s hand throughout the day, while Ashlyn described it as the most perfect proposal imaginable. It was a day full of anticipation, happiness, celebration, gratitude, & above all, love.