Every good story starts at Florida State University, and this one is no different...

In 2020, a year full of Covid, protests, and uncertainty, God had other plans for Maddie and Jonathan. Just as everything else was unique that year, the way they met was also. Jonathan was aimlessly scrolling his Facebook timeline (as one did during the quarantine era) when a pretty blonde in a group photo caught his eye…you guessed it, that girl was Maddie! He inquired about Maddie and got her phone number— she thought "Hey, he's pretty cute!" and gave him a chance.

After texting for a little while, Jonathan asked Maddie out on their first date - breakfast at Bada Bean in Tallahassee. From that date, they were pretty much inseparable!

On November 3, 2020, Jonathan took Maddie on a romantic picnic in Cascades Park and asked her to be his girlfriend, not knowing that exactly 2 years and 8 months later, he would ask her to be his wife.

From football games to formals, to trips, to (online) classes, they fell in love more and more each day. After graduation, Maddie would move back to Tampa and Jonathan would stay in Tallahassee and start on his Masters (and wait for the Air Force to figure things out) - regardless, with the help of FaceTime, road trips, and God’s unshakable plan, they made it work.

When Jonathan faced one of the hardest times in his life with the loss of his brother, Maddie was there every step of the way. Through the emotional rollercoaster, God’s guidance, and the famous words of his brother, “She’s a good one, don’t lose her”, Jonathan knew - she was the one.

Over the next few years, Maddie and Jonathan would find themselves on pretty unique career journeys. Maddie went back to school and shifted into the Interior Design industry while Jonathan went from working in politics in Tallahassee and the Florida Keys, into the Air Force in Texas.

With these significant life changes, Jonathan and Maddie together decided to rededicate their faith to our Savior, Jesus Christ. This decision drastically grew their love for one another and for Jesus, all while making it clear that marriage was next for them.

On July 3, 2023, while on a summer vacation in Laguna Beach, California, Jonathan planned a romantic beach picnic, and asked Maddie to be his wife - which she joyfully said, “YES!”.

“God has beautifully planned each step of our relationship. Every peak and valley has taught us more about who we are in Christ- separately as His children, and together, as a future married couple in Him.”

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