We first met back in 2019 when Madison transferred to UNCW for her sophomore year. On move-in day, Jake popped his head into her dorm room and made a quick comment about how high her bed was (and yes, it really was that high). We laugh looking back now, because that small, random moment was actually the start of something so much bigger than either of us realized. Over the next few months, we ended up in the same friend group and naturally started spending more time together. It didn’t take long for us to realize how much we had in common. We became close friends, and eventually started dating in March 2020—just before the world shut down for COVID. Our relationship hasn’t always been easy. We went through a tough season and decided to go our separate ways in August of that same year. Looking back, that time apart was necessary. God was doing a lot of work in both of our hearts—teaching us, growing us, and helping us understand who we were apart from each other. We stayed in touch here and there, but it wasn’t until 2022 that God brought us back together. This time felt different. We came back as two people who had been refined, who knew more about what it meant to love, to communicate well, and to walk in step with what God was calling us to. Our story is one of grace, growth, and redemption. We’ve learned the value of honesty, prayer, patience, and being intentional—not just in how we love each other, but in how we invite God into every part of our relationship. He’s taken what once felt broken and turned it into something beautiful. Now, we’re stepping into marriage with a deep friendship, a lot of laughter, and a whole lot of love. We’re so thankful for where we’ve been, and even more excited for where we’re going—together.