We’re getting married!

Our love story began in the hallways of Olathe East High School! I (Haley) would walk past Payne every day going from 3rd period to 4th, and finally I asked my friend Carley “Who is that guy? He is so cute!” Word got around to Payne that I had been asking about him, and he finally worked up the courage to introduce himself. After getting to know each other, we realized we had been neighbors for years and didn’t even know it! (our parents still live right around the corner from each other!) After spending the summer together, we began the daunting task of starting a long-distance relationship. Payne would come visit me in the Fall, and I’d go to him in the Spring. With soccer and baseball season being at different times of year, this actually worked in our favor! Even when times got hard, we both believed that it was worth it. After college, I got drafted to play in Houston while Payne was still finishing his degree at Central Missouri. At that time, there wasn’t really an end to this long distance thing in sight - UNTIL Payne got a summer internship for Hensel Phelps. Payne did so well in this internship that HP was willing to work with him on location preferences. We were stoked that he could potentially end up somewhere like Dallas, Austin, or San Antonio…Houston seemed too good to be true. What happened next was nothing short of a miracle - Payne secured a role with Hensel Phelps and moved to Houston February 2020! Just like that, almost 6 years of long distance was in the rear-view mirror and we haven’t looked back! By the grace of God our young love has stood the test of time, distance, and change. Payne and I have grown up together, supported each other’s dreams, and chosen each other every step of the way. I couldn’t ask for a better life partner and best friend.