From My Perspective
Max and I met through my roommate in December of 2017. He walked in the door to our apartment and my jaw might have hit the floor. He was incredibly easy to talk to, but never in my wildest dreams did I think it would be anything more than a casual meeting. Five months later I received a message from Max. He was just as easy to talk to as I had remembered, and he asked for me to join him for chips & salsa the next time I was in Auburn. Before I knew it, it was June 7, 2018 and we were on our first date. Time passed too quickly and the restaurant let us know that they were closed. Max and I were not ready for our fun to end, and found ourselves in a national forest – swing dancing and gazing at the stars. On the way back, Max turned to me and told me that he had intentions of pursuing me. Immediately when I was alone, I picked up the phone and called my mom. At 2 AM I told her “I found the man I am going to marry”.
Over the next six weeks, Max studied abroad in Europe. He did exactly what he promised though, he pursued me well. He called me from multiple countries, and was in contact whenever he could be. Upon Max’s return stateside, knowing that he missed celebrating his favorite holiday, I picked up fireworks to recreate a July 4th celebration. Once again, Max demonstrated his care and intentionality. Before picking me up, he had printed out maps of firework restricted areas to guarantee our fun would not be interrupted. Flash forward a few weeks and he was at my front door on August 9, 2018. He was there to pick me up for a date night of drinks at The Collegiate and a walk around our favorite campus. As we made our way around campus, we found ourselves ending our walk right there in front of Samford Hall. We shared our first kiss, expressed our love for each other, and he told me that after our first date he told his mom he found the girl he wanted to spend forever with.
As we have been together over the years, Max has continued to love and pursue me well. Being faced with years of long distance never stopped him from making efforts to see me every weekend. From Auburn to Texas, or Birmingham to Auburn, he continued to show me that distance would never drive us apart. Every high and every low, he has been my steady rock. Max has become an important member of my family, and has intentionally loved those dearest to me. Since I was a little girl, we prayed for a man that would lead me well in the Lord, and Max has done just that. Max has been an answer to so many of my prayers, and I feel so honored to be chosen by the Lord to be his wife.
From Max’s Perspective
When Ashley and I met, there was an immediate attraction – I definitely felt a need to learn more about her. I was struck at how beautiful she was, and that she was talking to me!
Fast forward to a few months later, Ashley and I began to reconnect. It was very casual, and I still enjoyed talking to her! I invited her to go with me to get chips and salsa – up until this point, I had really tried my best to manage relationships, dating and all the rest with my own abilities and my own mind. I knew going into this first outing, I could not take the same approach. I prayed for all things relating to this chips and salsa date to be God’s will, not mine.
And so, Ashley shows up about thirty minutes late and then promptly walks right past me after setting her things on the table. In my mind, I am just happy she showed up! It turns out, she went to the wrong restaurant on the other side of town. This is especially humorous now, because she is much more serious about being on time and on schedule than I am. The date carries on, and eventually leads to us being ushered out by the staff after our “chips and salsa” turned into a multiple course meal.
I did not want the date to end there – I just had to start getting to know this girl! She asked me great questions, and carried a wonderful conversation. It was not just the typical “who are you, where are you from, what is your major?” type of conversation. It was in depth, and intentional. I took her with me to go swing dancing in the headlights after we left chips and salsa! I then told her I had feelings for her, but that I was also going to have to leave and study abroad in Europe for the remainder of the summer. She said she had feelings for me as well. It was quite the conversation to end the night!
Later that night, I texted my mom that I think I found the person I want to marry. I have never been more right.
Throughout my time traveling in Europe, I wanted to make a point to talk to her if at all possible, and I got to! The only problem was that I was six hours ahead, which meant I had to call at around 1AM if I wanted to get the chance to have a good conversation. I did just that, and it was totally worth it! Some of my fondest memories of the time I had in Europe was of her and I talking on the phone.
Once I returned, she and I planned out a second date. I told her about how I was sad that I missed my favorite holiday, July 4th. She took things into her own hands, and planned for us to set off fireworks for our second date. I was so excited! Before the date, I used some of the resources I had and printed out a large copy of a map of Auburn overlayed with the city limits. I would use this map to plan out where we could and could not set off fireworks. She thought it was hilarious when I rolled out the large sheet across the hood of my car and began plotting where to go! We had a wonderful time driving around and celebrating a belated Independence day!
Fast forward to early August. I planned a date for us on the rooftop of the Collegiate. We were there until the place closed down (again) and we set out to go exploring around campus. We found ourselves eventually in front of Samford Hall, where we shared our first kiss. From there, we have been virtually inseparable, whether I was working in Texas or she was working in Birmingham. Ashley has added so much color to my life, and I am able to say that I have the utmost gratitude and honor that she will be my wife.
