Thank you to everyone who attended our wedding. Whether in person, online, or in spirit, you all made our day so special and perfect!

We met during orientation week of our first year of medical school. Our first real interaction happened on the last day, while we were waiting our turn to complete an assessment. To pass the time, we played a trivia game with a small group, testing each other on world and U.S. state capitals. Neither of us were particularly good at it, but it was a fun way to pass the time and start getting to know our classmates. On the first day of classes, out of over 200 seats in the lecture hall, Nate chose the one right next to me. I didn’t recognize him at first, so we didn’t talk until he noticed my mushroom keychain—a little clay sculpture I had made the summer before. He thought it was cool and complimented my artwork, which sparked our first real conversation. Honestly, I wasn’t romantically interested at the time, which actually made our chats feel more genuine. I felt no pressure to impress him, and looking back, I’m thankful he never got weirded out by my many rants about bugs. As luck would have it, we ended up not only sitting together in lecture, but also assigned to the same lab group and the same cadaver tank—one of over 15 in our anatomy lab. Working with him every day turned out to be amazing. Our schedules lined up perfectly, which made studying and spending time together feel effortless and natural. One afternoon after lab, we had plans to go to Waffle House with a classmate. When I stepped out of the lab to clean up, that classmate turned to Nate and said, “I’ll do you a solid and not go this time,” clearly picking up on something between us. Over the next few weeks, we kept getting closer, until eventually we had an honest conversation about what we wanted for the future—and how a long-term relationship might fit into our lives as future physicians. Not long after that, we made it official!

During orientation week, I hadn’t really settled into any particular friend group, so I made it a point to sit in different areas of the classroom each day to meet new people. On the first day of actual classes, I noticed a pretty girl sitting in the third row and thought to myself, “She seems like someone I wouldn’t mind getting to know.” So, I sat next to her. We made small talk during breaks, and I genuinely enjoyed our conversations. I was excited to learn that we were in the same Y-Group. Later that afternoon, as we headed to anatomy lab after lunch, I saw her again—and as luck would have it, we were assigned to the same lab table. I was thrilled because it felt like the perfect opportunity to talk to her some more. As time went on, we really seemed to hit it off. Our conversations became deeper and more meaningful, and we spent more and more time together. When I came to Liberty, I was at a low point in my life. But meeting Rebekah changed that. With her, I felt things begin to shift. Life became lighter and brighter. I’m truly happy now—and I’m excited about what the future holds for the two of us.

From the very beginning of our relationship, we both knew we were going to get married. I mean, what’s the point of even dating someone if you can't picture a life together? The one obstacle that I was terrified for him to have to overcome was: gaining my dad’s approval. Since high school, it felt like my dad practically hated every boy I ever liked. I was terrified that he would disapprove of Nate as well—since in his eyes, I was still his little girl, and the thought of letting me go probably wasn’t easy. Still, my dad always told me that the highlight of his entire life would be walking me down the aisle confidently, knowing I had found a trustworthy and capable man who he could be proud to welcome into our family as my husband. I was determined to make sure Nate was that person in his eyes. To my utter shock, after their very first conversation, my dad seemed to really like him. But I didn’t want to take any chances—I wanted him to be fully convinced. So Nate and I made plans to visit my parents in Florida that summer, where he could officially ask my dad for his blessing. I was a nervous wreck, but Nate stayed optimistic. When I asked him what we’d do if my dad said no, he just smiled and said, “I’ll ask again next year.” But then, things took a turn. Not long after that, my dad was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer. We rearranged our plans and moved the visit up to the first week of April. As his condition quickly declined, he told my mom he wanted to record a message for Nate in order to give him his blessing, just in case he didn’t get the chance to speak with him in person. But sadly, he never felt well enough to make the recording. On March 22, 2025— sooner than anyone initially expected—my dad passed away. His final words to Nate were documented the day before his death. Originally meant to be part of his video, he had asked my mom to write them down for him. At his funeral, the pastor read these words aloud: “Nate, it has been the dream of my life to take my daughter by the hand and lead her down the aisle of the church and put her hand in the hand of someone who loves her as much as I do. You have been open and honest with me—traits that are absolutely necessary for marriage. It is critical that any young couple find a Bible-believing church where they can plant themselves and grow.” Even though my dad won’t be there in person to walk me down the aisle, I know he’ll still be with me—somehow, in some form—celebrating with all of you. I know he’d be smiling, knowing that his daughter is safe, loved, and cared for by a truly good and Godly man who loves her as much as he did.