The first week of freshman year at Ole Miss, I was more homesick than I had ever imagined was possible. Despite my emotions, I agreed to an older friend’s advice to attend RUF - a campus ministry held on Wednesday evenings. I was introduced to a plethora of fellow freshmen, one of them being Jeep! He was kind, quiet, and uncharacteristic of his reserved nature, he boldly complimented my two different colored eyes.

At the end of the semester Jeep asked me to his fraternity’s Christmas formal. I had heard excellent things about these formals, during which the basement of the fraternity houses were filled with packing peanuts to mimic piles of snow. I was elated! I quickly learned this event would actually involve a bus ride to Beale Street in Memphis - no styrofoam in sight. While Jeep and I had become acquainted over the past few months since we met, I was nervous I wouldn’t be able to hold a conversation during the hour and some drive to Memphis. I think I may have made a list of questions to pepper him with just in case. We ended up having the best time, and during our many topics of conversation we learned we had the same senior quote in our high school yearbooks. He was one of the funniest people I had ever met, a perfect gentleman, and so wholesome it made my heart burst.

Throughout college, we remained friends and socialized in similar circles. Senior year, Jeep came up in conversation among a group of girls in which we were remarking how kind, funny, and goodhearted he was. I vividly remember saying, “Whoever marries Jeep will be the luckiest girl in the world. I bet he will be just the best husband.” I meant this truly from a place of friendly admiration and had no idea I would be that girl. I can say with confidence I was right about that speculation, because I really am the luckiest!

In April 2024, two years after graduating college, I randomly remembered it was Jeep’s birthday and decided to send him a text. I thought maybe he would appreciate hearing from me, but I also heavily debated signing the text with my name in case he didn’t have my number anymore. I have no explanation for why I remembered it was his birthday and why I decided to send a message other than God’s design! We continued chatting back and forth, eventually coming up on the topic of Double Decker weekend, which I was conveniently planning to travel back to Oxford (where Jeep was still living at the time) for. I may or may not have meticulously crafted my texts to Jeep so he would be led to ask if I was coming, and hopefully foster a plan for us to run into each other at some point.

I am normally someone who updates my friends and family on every move I make, but I kept this sudden reconnection with Jeep very close to the vest. I had a feeling it was something special, to say the least. The day before I flew to Oxford for Double Decker, I texted my mom, “Do you remember Jeep? I’m sure you do. Anyways, his birthday was a few weeks ago and I randomly texted him happy birthday and now we have texted every day since and I think we are gonna get married one day.” I could have clued her in with something more subtle, but that is far from my style!

We ended up “running into each other” on Saturday afternoon at South Depot, where both of our friend groups often congregated during college and still do when we come to town. I invited Jeep to join me and my gaggle at our booth, and we spent the rest of the day and into the evening catching up about everything under the sun. The next day, Jeep asked if I would have time to go on a walk or get dinner. That afternoon we met up for a walk around campus, which ended up turning into a 4-hour long stroll and a trip to Yaya’s for frozen yogurt. We stayed in touch through long distance visits, FaceTime calls, writing letters, and have cherished every moment together that led us here!

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