After meeting briefly months before (and then low-key liking each other's song lyric statuses on Facebook - thanks Lynyrd Skynyrd), Kelli and Kendall crossed paths once more on a sort-of-local spring break mission trip at the sweet and awkward age of 17. One thing led to another. Kelli smiled and waved, Kendall smiled and waved back as he sanded a piece of furniture. Or did Kendall wave first? It was basically love at second sight, if you believe in that sort of thing. Kendall got a migraine, Kelli braved a storm to deliver him an Excedrin. They bonded over music, Kendall swooned Kelli with his guitar pickin'. Kelli asked Kendall to prom, he said yes as long as it was ok with his parents. Kendall gave Kelli a goodnight kiss on the forehead, which accidentally led to real goodnight kiss. And seven years later they're gettin' married!

One day I was at Dial Hardware while working in South Texas, and I looked at my boss and said, "I think I'm going to propose to Kelli." I then talked to Kelli's aunt Debbie, her father Randy, and my parents Joyce and Brian. Kelli and her mother had no clue. When I asked Randy for his blessing he choked back tears and said, "It's about time, boy." Aunt Debbie had the most perfect ring crafted for Kelli from family diamonds and my mother volunteered to take photos, which turned out amazing! I flew in from South Texas to Tennessee on December 22nd, 2016, and Kelli had no clue that I wasn't 17 hours away from her or that I would be home for Christmas. On Christmas Eve, Aunt Debbie woke Kelli up and tricked her into getting up and dressed because they were going to meet one of Debbie’s good friends and her family, which included famous songwriter Dean Dillon, for lunch (but Kelli wasn't too happy about being woken up before 11AM). Kelli, Debbie, and Kelli’s mom Sheila “conveniently" happened to "stop by" the barn where Kelli’s horse Chip lives on the way to "drop off Christmas cards.” When they got there, I was pacing and nervous, feeling like a 16 year old about to have his first kiss. As Kelli walked into the barn, my mother (hiding in a horse stall) flashed a picture, spooking Kelli, right as she turned the corner to see her horse Chip and I standing there waiting for her. I had made a sign reading, "He has my blessing,” for Kelli’s first true love, Chip, to wear around his neck. Kelli completely lost it and I don't know how I didn't cry like a newborn, but I held it back. I cannot believe that I get the honor of sharing my entire life with Kelli. -Kendall