Matthew and I (Emerson) first met through mutual friends while I was a junior in college. I’ll never forget when he showed up to my annual Halloween party—hosted with my friend Anaston—dressed as Hugh Hefner. I remember thinking, “Get a load of this guy…” (LOL). Over the next year, we continued running into each other around Wichita Falls—he had his life, and I had mine. By the time I started my senior year, I was coming out of a relationship, and Matthew reached out as a friend. Around that time, we were often hanging out with the same friend group. We had truly bonded over difficult things in our lives we had each gone through, and a true friendship was formed. One night while we were out, I noticed something different about him. Later that evening, he sent me a message confessing his feelings. Again, my first thought was, “Get a load of this guy,” as I laughed about it with my girlfriends because Matt never showed feelings like the ones he expressed - and he knew I was not expecting that news at all. But Matthew was persistent, pursuing me while I was navigating senior year and all the challenges that came with it. In the midst of it all, I felt the Lord nudging me to open my eyes to what was right in front of me. After taking some personal time, I finally said yes to going on a date with Matthew. Even though we had already been friends and spent time together, that first date felt different—it was the start of something real. Our relationship hasn’t always been easy. Through trials, perseverance, and plenty of growth, we leaned on each other and leaned on God. On May 19, 2024, Matthew asked me to officially be his girlfriend. Since then, we’ve walked through highs and lows side by side, always having one another’s backs. I’m so thankful that God gave me exactly what I needed, even when I wasn’t sure I was ready. On May 24, 2025, Matthew asked me to marry him. This new chapter of our lives has already brought so much growth, deeper faith, and abundant love. We truly believe God has had His hand in every step of our story, and we’re grateful for the love He’s placed in our lives—for Him and for each other.

In early May 2025, I graduated college, and Matthew and I were about to celebrate our one-year anniversary of dating. To make the most of our time before I started a new job that required weekend shifts, Matthew suggested we take a celebratory trip to Fort Worth. Friday night, we were enjoying our weekend when two of our friends showed up unexpectedly all the way from Wichita Falls. I thought that was a little suspicious, but we carried on and had a wonderful night. The next morning, we were supposed to head home, but Matthew told me to get dressed up for one more surprise. When I realized he was driving toward Dallas, my curiosity grew. On the way, he was insistent about being on time—until he suddenly pulled into a gas station for a Red Bull. Not only that, but he made me come inside with him, which I never do. I remember thinking once again, “Get a load of this guy!” Watching him practically inhale a Juneberry Red Bull while I grew more and more impatient, I finally asked, “WHAT are we doing??” He explained we were going to lunch somewhere we’d always talked about, so I assumed it was the Dallas skyline restaurant. Instead, we pulled up near the State Fairgrounds. At this point, I was very hangry and joked, “Unless we’re here for corn dogs and funnel cakes, I need food!” (Needless to say, that went over well.) Matthew parked, and we walked around the corner of a butterfly house I had no idea even existed. We wandered inside for what felt like forever until someone guided us to a private trail. At the end of the path, Matthew took my hand and led me into a secluded garden where glowing letters spelled out “MARRY ME.” A photographer was waiting as my heart skipped a beat. Then, in the most perfect moment, Matthew got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. Through tears of pure joy, I said yes. But the surprises weren’t over. He told me to turn around—and there were our families, cheering and celebrating with us. After soaking in the moment, we shared lunch with Matthew’s mom and stepdad before heading to my brother’s house. There, yet another surprise awaited us: so many of our closest friends and family gathered to celebrate our engagement. That day will forever be one of our favorites—full of laughter, love, happy tears, and God’s abundant blessings.