I transferred to Westminster in 2011 as a Sophomore in high school, which is where Matthew and I first met. We immediately hit it off as friends and would spend many weekends with our combined friend groups. Things changed at the beginning of Junior year and I started to think I might like Matthew. Our friends talked to each other and set us up (as most high school relationships start). We went to football games, hangouts with friends, as well as the homecoming dance together. I don't remember how long we dated in high school, but it wasn't more than a couple months. I broke up with him and he still hasn't let me live that down. Matthew and I graduated high school and went our separate ways. I often wondered about Matthew and how he was doing. I didn't think anything would ever come of us again, even though I had hoped that we would eventually reconnect. Fast forward 9 years, Matthew and I began to communicate with each other very seldomly through snapchat and the occasional instagram message. As time went on we began talking more and more. Each of our siblings got engaged and both planned a wedding for July 31, 2021, which gave Matthew and I something new in common and even more of a reason to talk to each other. Before I knew it Matthew and I were talking everyday and I was beginning to have feelings for him again. I hoped that Matthew was feeling the same way, but I had no idea. On May 4, 2021 we went on our first date. After about our third date together I knew that Matthew was the one. I invited him on our annual family beach trip in October, which is where we both said this is exactly what we each wanted. I called my dad after the beach trip and told him that I wanted to marry Matthew, to which he replied that this came as no surprise to him. Over the next couple months we talked about what our future would look like together and on December 23, 2021 Matthew proposed to me while on a date in Providence.

Cara and I met our Sophomore year of high school at Westminster Christian Academy. We had close friend groups and even shared our Bible class that year. It didn’t take long for us to become good friends. As junior year at WCA arrived we found ourselves going out with some close friends more. Before the Auburn-Clemson game in 2012, I asked Cara to be my girlfriend. Well, she said yes and we dated a little over a month, but remained friends throughout high school. Cara went to UNA and I went off to Auburn before returning to Huntsville for work. While I was working in the banking industry Cara remained at UNA. We checked on each other every once in a while, but started talking more regularly late 2020. One thing that we had in common to talk about was our siblings’ weddings. Her brother, Quinn, was getting married on July 31st, the same day as my sister Sarah’s wedding. Leading up to these weddings, Cara and I started dating again and it was truly an answered prayer. I have prayed throughout the years to be with someone who I love and loves the Lord. God has been too good to Cara and I both, blessing us with amazing family, friends, and coworkers. And I thank God for bringing Cara back into my life so we can spend the rest of our days serving Him.