Sam and I met online, which is not how I ever imagined meeting my person, but I'm so thankful that the Lord used it to bring me Sam! It was clear to me very early on that we had a lot in common, and talking to him was just so easy. After a month of talking, he finally asked me out. So, on June 15th, 2024, we met at a Starbucks in the most romantic city on earth, AKA Newberry, SC.

Throughout that summer, we continued going out and getting to know each other. I slowly but surely realized that I wanted him to be a part of my life, and I would be sad if he weren't.

Then on September 16th, he made things official, and I was on cloud 9. About a week into us dating, he took me to a Gamecock football game (go Tigers!), and that's when I knew I was in trouble. I remember sitting in the car on the way home and getting choked up because I realized he was all the things people told me I deserved in a guy, but I didn't think was ever possible. That's when I knew I loved him.

Over the next couple of months, it became increasingly clear that Sam was the person the Lord had for me. He makes me laugh more than any other person and loves me in the good times and bad. By the time it was December, we knew we would get married, it was just a matter of when.

The next couple of months were so sweet, but I got so impatient and was just ready to call him my fiancé. By the time April 5th came around, I was pretty grumpy and just ready for the waiting to be over.

My parents got me in the car to go to Charlotte for a "family event," but the closer we got to Charlotte, the grumpier I got. I had my suspicions, but I thought there was no way he would go all the way to Charlotte. Boy, was I wrong!

Next thing I know, I'm in a park with the man I love on one knee asking me to marry him. It was perfect, and all our people were there, and I couldn't have dreamed it any better if I tried.

Overall, I'm just feeling super thankful for Sam and the Lord's hand in it all. Our story has felt anything but conventional, but it's exactly how God wanted it to be. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

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