I was going home from Samford University for Winter Break, but there was one problem--I did not like driving long distances by myself and I needed to bring my car home. I reached out to a friend who I knew lived in Charlotte, he said we weren't coming back to school at the same time so it didn't work, but his roommate (JP) was. I was skeptical because I had only seen him a few times and only had mutual friends with him--I didn't really know him. I was skeptical but also desperate so I somehow agreed to go. JP and I talked the WHOLE seven-hour ride and I remember praying "Lord this man is ON FIRE for you, don't let me like him, I know I need to be single for longer". The Lord really came through on that prayer because we were best friends for about a year before we ever expressed interest. September 22, 2018 I met up with his mom because I wanted to get to know her more. Well, that ended with me falling EVEN MORE for this boy because the way Ms. Alli talked about his heart just made me swoon. That night I wrote and read him a letter expressing that I couldn't just be friends with him anymore. I was still processing my past and finding my worth in guys in high school so I told him while I liked him I wanted to process this just me and the Lord first. John Patrick waited to pursue me until I was fully ready and that is the sweetest part. We began dating in November & got engaged about a year later. John Patrick is my better half, he is slow to anger and represents the Lord so beautifully. I feel as though I do not deserve him and I'm daily blessed I get to do life with him. I cannot wait to MARRY this man.
I went to Samford with the intention of growing closer to the Lord and focusing on studies. Little did I know that I would meet the woman of my dreams, best friend, and love of my life, Martha Taylor. We met through one of my good friends and Martha’s great friend Mackenzie. Martha needed a ride back and forth from Samford over Winter Break, so I said sure-always down for some company on two, 7-hour trips. Those car rides led to a friendship like no other. From casual hangouts in the Quad to Target runs, to lunch “dates”. We became best friends. She is so fun, so genuine, so caring! Over the summer, I got to see her twice, two of the best parts of summer ;) we flirted with the idea of dating and being “more than friends” but we didn’t wanna “ruin our friendship”. I was absolutely crushed when she said she was transferring, but I absolutely supported her calling. I cry over two things (God speaking To me, and Martha Taylor). I am so thankful for Martha’s boldness and our “Determine-the-Relationship” talk we had. Our best-friendship continued to grow and we slid right into dating. Life with Martha Taylor has been a dream and I am so blessed to do the hard and the easy with Martha Taylor for the rest of my life. Marrying my best friend to build the Kingdom!