Knoxville was always part of God's beautiful plan for Maria and Jacob. In September 2022, Maria moved from Miami to Knoxville for a news reporting job. What she thought was a career move turned out to be so much more—God had something far greater in store. In January 2023, Maria unknowingly interviewed Jake’s father, Ben, for a news story. Maria learned that she and Jake attended the same church. Though she hadn’t yet met Jake, their paths were destined to cross through a mutual friend. In May 2023, Maria and Jake's first coffee date sparked something special. What began as a simple date blossomed into a deep, beautiful love, strengthened through prayer, connection, and (of course) hiking in the Smokies. In August 2023, Jake left for a two-month mission trip to Lima, Peru. The distance only made their hearts grow fonder, and they knew their bond was something extraordinary. When he returned, they served together at church, and their love grew stronger. In March 2024, Jake received a job offer in Atlanta. After much prayer and reflection, they both felt God's peace guiding them forward. In May, he moved to begin this new chapter, and by October, their love reached its next milestone—Jake proposed, and Maria said, "Yes," marking the beginning of forever.