We matched on Bumble while I was sitting on my best friend's couch one random Sunday evening! I (Jenn) was intrigued by Matthews profile. He listed sports teams, how he was a Christ follower, and how much he loved kids. I was smitten instantly and figured it was too good to be true. The first thing I messaged him was "You sound like a great guy, but your sports teams are terrible" Later on in that conversation he asked me if I liked to play card games and I of course said yes. To which he responded "Speaking my love language. Sports, cards, and competition. We could either fall madly in love or hate each other's guts!" ....I'm so glad we chose the first option! We met for the first time 8 days later, November 27th 2018, over pizza and great conversation.

Jenn and I (Matthew) started casually going on dates, but then I decided I wasn't ready to commit to anyone or anything quite yet. . A month later we started casually chatting again. Shortly after Jenn was T-boned by a drunk driver and suffered some complex injuries. I watched Jenn endure surgeries, rehab, learning how to walk again, etc. We truly became the best of friends in that season and we are so grateful we had the chance to establish a foundation of friendship to build our relationship on. I decided I was finally ready to commit wholeheartedly to her and we officially became boyfriend and girlfriend in the summer of 2018. We have loved all of our time dating and getting to know one another. We’ve endured so much in such a short amount of time together but we know it will prepare us to handle anything we have to face in the future.

We were vacationing on Anna Maria Island in Florida with Matthew's family. It had been a great week of sun, fun, and family memories. Matthew's sister Megan accidentally left her camera at home so we found and arranged for a photographer to come take family pictures towards the end of our trip during sunset on the beach. Little did I (Jenn) know Matthew contacted our photographer and told her he intended to propose during the photos. So we all got photo ready, headed down to the beach, and started taking photos. Matthew purposefully had us wait until the end to take our pictures together. He had us walk down to the beach and I was so confused why we were walking down to the water because no one else had done that. But then I looked up and saw his entire family circled around the photographer with all of their phones out and then it all clicked. Matthew said "I have a question for you" to which I responded "Nooooooo!"...out of shock and surprise, I wasn't really saying no! He pulled the ring out and got on one knee and I said in a super high pitched voice "of course I will!!!!" We kissed, the photographer snapped pictures, and our family cheered! It was the sweetest and most wonderful moment! I had woke up earlier that day thinking we could possibly get engaged that day but I was absolutely clueless and caught off guard that it happened during photos. I am so grateful for Matthew creating a proposal that was so special to me and that I'll never forget.