We met in the library on the first day of class in grad school at UT-Chattanooga in August of 2020. Payton was starting the PT program and Sara was starting the OT program. Payton ran into Sara's roommate Danielle (who was a classmate of his) at the library and she introduced us. Payton was outwardly calm and cool while internally stressing about the beginning of the semester, while Sara was outwardly panicking because the library printer took all of her printing money for the semester and didn't print off her anatomy cards. It went exactly how every classic romantic story begins. Sara and her roommates hadn't yet moved into their apartment due to a housing situation falling through, so they were staying in an Airbnb for the first few weeks of class until their apartment was ready for move-in. Payton, being the hero he is, offered to help move them in. Much to Payton's dismay, Sara (whom Payton referred to as Danielle's cute roommate) was actually not present on the day they moved their stuff in, so his opportunity would have to wait for another day. Throughout that first semester, Sara and her roommates invited Payton and his friends to Jefferson Street Park in Chattanooga every Friday after class for weekly sand volleyball games. Eventually, the girls invited the guys over for a watch party for the Bachelorette, which the guys reluctantly accepted. After one episode, the guys were hooked. Before we knew it, every Friday afternoon and evening consisted of playing volleyball, watching the Bachelor, and playing spicy Uno and Mario Kart. Through our Fridays spent together, we grew to be good friends, although Payton had a huge crush on Sara, and everyone except for her knew about it. It is important to note that word of Payton's efforts in helping Sara move into her apartment quickly spread, and he became the go-to guy for all of the PT and OT students whenever they were moving. On January 30th, 2021, two of Payton's classmates asked for Payton's help moving, and Sara also helped since they lived at her complex. After the move, Payton finally told Sara about his feelings for her, and he was ecstatic when she told him she felt the same way. We began talking more intentionally and getting to know each other more deeply, and Payton asked Sara to officially be his girlfriend on April 11, 2021 while on a hike on Lookout Mountain. Then, Payton told Sara two weeks into officially dating that he was falling in love with her, but Sara said "I love you" first the next day. Early on, they realized that they wanted to spend forever together, and talks of marriage started within the first year of dating. However, their story didn't come without its challenges. In September of 2022, Payton told Sara he was having doubts about his faith. Payton was prepared for Sara to end it on the spot, but he knew how important her faith was and knew he had to be honest with her. Thankfully, she did not end the relationship but, rather, began to pray for him and asked her close friends and family to pray as well. Over the next few years, they would graduate, move to Nashville, and start their careers while discussing their faith. Throughout these years, Sara saw God answering her prayers. They found a church family in Nashville where they got involved in a small group and developed community. Through this, Payton was able to explore his questions about faith. In February of 2025, they were at lunch on a Valentine's Day date and Payton told Sara that he was growing more confident in his beliefs and in his faith. They went ring shopping soon after, and Payton proposed on June 14th, 2025 in front of the Magnolia tree in Sara's parents' back yard. We are here because of the goodness of God and we praise Jesus that we get to be here in this moment. Thank you to everyone who walked and prayed with us over the past four and a half years. We are so thankful for our family and friends that make up our community!