My sophomore year, I met a freshman named Joshua Duncan. I don't remember meeting him, and he doesn't remember meeting me, but we had to have met because, well, here we are. We assume we met at RUF, Reformed University Fellowship, and that we connected over a mutual youth pastor. Throughout the next few years, we interacted often, and had a lot of mutual friends. Josh, or Duncan as most people at State know him, lived with a group of guys who were close with me and my roommates. My roommates and I hosted a lot of parties, and Josh came to plenty of them. But still, we were just people who knew each other. We weren't that close. In 2023, we were put on the same team within RUF's servant team. We were in charge of RUF events (along with two other members). So, we spent a lot more time together and became close friends. I was also involved in our church's youth group and we were looking for a guy intern for the summer. I was convinced that it HAD to be Josh. (I told myself this had nothing to do with how I felt about him, I just thought he would be good for the job!) He was offered the job and he stayed in Starkville that summer. I spent the beginning part of the summer convincing myself that I didn't like him, that I needed to be single, and that I was okay on my own. Then.... he asked me out. And I said no. Ha! I told him I wanted to wait. A few weeks later, sitting in my house after yet another movie night with us and our friends, I told him that I thought I was ready for that date now. The very next day we went out for ice cream and went on a long walk (in the heat of the summer). He asked me to be his girlfriend and... I said yes! This was June 8, 2023. For the rest of that summer we spent almost every day together. We hung out with his roommates and mine, we went to the pool, we went to the movies, we played games.... it was a really sweet summer. Then the school year started and things got a little tougher. We had to learn to balance school and a relationship. Over the past year we have learned a lot about each other and what it means to love one another well. We have had many adventures and many challenges that grew us. But, through God's grace, we have faced each one with love. On July 13, 2024, Joshua Kory Duncan asked me to marry him. He did it on the shore of the coast right at sunset. It was magical. Oh - and I said YES! We are so excited to get married! And we are so excited for all of our favorite people to celebrate with us!!! June 7, 2025 can't come fast enough! We'll see you all there!!!!