We met at SMU and were long time friends before ever officially dating. I remember meeting Max for the first time and literally saying "Max and Ruby, Ruby and Max." IFYKYK. How smooth... Over time, our friendship grew. He was one of the boys that I hung out with on the daily - whether it be studying, playing ping pong, working out, playing COD, grocery shopping, impromptu Petland visits... we have done it all and more together. College was such a fun season for us, and things continue to get better and better! Spring of our Junior year, we signed up for Earthquakes and Volcanoes together (we both needed a science elective). And this is how our romantic connection started... he would come over between classes to "park" and "study" since I lived close to campus... sure, that was his reasoning... After many study dates and basically being attached at the hip, Max asked me on a date to TCBY Fro-Yo. It's our favorite dessert place to this day! On July 5th, 2019, Max officially asked me to be his girlfriend under the stars in good ole Waco, TX. Since then, he has been my biggest supporter... From volleyball to school to our jobs, I couldn't ask for a better partner in crime. I mean golly we got through COVID-19 together!!! We had to live in different cities for some time and learn to communicate and overcome circumstances in new ways that's for sure! Also, we both got dogs in 2019 (me) and 2020 (him). And let me tell you, that has been such a fun and crazy journey in of itself! We have faced our fair share of challenges, but I wouldn't want to go through life with anyone else. Max - You are the man I have been praying for. I have specific journal notes from 2017 asking the Lord to provide me someone who is caring, generous, funny, fun, intelligent, and more - but only when the time was right. You came into my life at the perfect time and I am forever grateful. You are my best friend and I love you so much. 9/30/23 can't come soon enough!

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. Genesis 2:18-24 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds in the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds in the sky and all the wild animals. But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man’s ribs and then closed up the place with flesh. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man. The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called “woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.