Claire first had a crush on Nick when she was in seventh grade. As we got older, we were involved in many of the same music groups, and we even went to the same youth group at Sherman Methodist Church. In high school, we began to talk a lot at Madrigal ensemble rehearsals, marching band games, and SMC church events. The first text Nick ever sent Claire was a texting "Game Pidgeon" game of Battleship, which, if you know him well, is VERY Nick.

Nick asked Claire to go to the homecoming dance at Williamsville High School when Nick was a sophomore and Claire was a freshman. We both liked each other a lot but wanted to wait until Nick could drive until we dated. That is why our dating anniversary is the day after Nick's 16th birthday! We dated all through high school, were involved in many of the same groups and ensembles, and went to many school dances together. We have many fond memories from this time and experienced a lot of ups and downs together, even as just high school students. It is a joy to look back on these times and see how God's hand was evident in our relationship from the very beginning.

Nick graduated from Williamsville High School and began attending Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri to study Music Education. Claire was still a senior at Williamsville during this time. This school year apart was filled with many Facetime calls, texts, and even some surprise visits. Soon enough, Claire started looking into what college she was going to attend. She went to visit Missouri State and was pretty convinced that this college was going to be the perfect fit for her. However, she decided to visit Evangel just to see where Nick was going to school. After an impactful scholarship interview weekend at Evangel, it felt clear to Claire that Evangel was where the Lord was leading Claire to go. After much prayer and discussions with her parents, things seemed to fall perfectly into place, as they often do when the Lord is working, for Claire to attend Evangel in the fall. This end of long-distance dating also meant the beginning of a beautiful new chapter in our relationship at Evangel University.

At Evangel University, we have grown and changed in so many great ways. At Evangel we have had the awesome opportunity to each individually grow deeper in our relationship with Christ. We have been able to make so many life long friends and memories. We have also been able to grow closer together as a couple, growing and learning alongside each other. At Evangel there has been many board game nights, late night food runs, busy music performance weekends, and so many laughs. We will always remember our time at Evangel as a time of God's abundant goodness.

After our honeymoon, we will be moving into an apartment in Springfield, Missouri. Nick will be done with his degree in Music Education, and will just have student teaching to complete in the fall. Claire will be finishing her senior year at Evangel with a major in Elementary Education and a minor in Human Resources Management. We can not wait to start our life together, and we are so glad each of you gets to be a part of helping us begin this new chapter!