We're getting married! #heleftaMark

Well. It was October 20, 2017 and State was playing Kentucky at home. Mark and the boys were in town, like always. I was tagging along with one of my best friends to join this rowdy group of boys for the football game. Soon after getting to my spot in the stadium, Mark turned around and introduced himself to me. He shook my hand, told me his name, I told him mine, and Mark replied, "Hannah Cole. I like that name." Throughout the season, we bonded over football games and the occasional get-to-know-you texts or phone call. I think the whole time we were both skeptical about making a new relationship work with distance in between us. One night in December, I got a text from Mark saying he knows he met me for a reason, and he isn't going to let me slip through his fingers. He made reservations at Harvey's in Starkville (get the broccoli bites), and the rest is history! We started dating in January of 2018 and have been going strong ever since. The spark and assurance that comes with this relationship is overwhelming. God has blessed us more than we could have ever dreamed!

On January 27, 2018 we took an afternoon stroll at North Farm in Starkville. At this point we had been on several dates but hadn't established any finite details about our relationship. This afternoon stroll lasted 2-3 hours. We talked about every past, current, and future detail of our lives. We walked up and down some old railroad tracks on this farm and got to know each other so in depth. A few weeks later we talked about this day. We expressed that this was the day we both realized God's plan. This was the day we both knew that we were it for each other. When we got back from our walk, I fell asleep and Mark stayed awake and prayed for me and our relationship. He "thanked God for sending him the girl he was looking for, prayed for God to lead our relationship, and prayed that one day we would be happily married." & look what God did! On October 26, 2018, Mark took me back to North Farm, got down on one knee, and reminded me of our afternoon back in January. He told me he had prayed for me for so long and asked me to spend forever with him. I said yes (duh) and he twirled me around as we celebrated the moment together. Everything was so perfect & it was a day we will never forget!