I remember the day my mama told me we were going to church. Just out of the blue on a random Saturday. We were driving home from my uncle's house in Vanleer, talking about random things as we usually do. Then Mama's hand shoots across the center console, about taking my eye with it, pointing to this random church and declared "We're going church there tomorrow morning. Figure out what time service starts"

Side note: Folks, you have to type in Slayden Missionary Baptist. Not just Slayden Baptist. GPS will take you Lamar, MS if you don't add "missionary" in the name. Figured that out the hard way.

The next morning, we got up and went to church at Slayden Missionary Baptist. Turns out we were too early for service and went straight to breakfast and Bible study with everyone. It's been like that every week since August 2025. We started going to Wednesday night Bible studies as well. I genuinely fell in love with the church, its people, and how devoted to Christ and to each other they are. It's inspiring to witness and truly an honor to be part of. I gave myself over to the Lord and got baptized in this church March 15th.

There's a point to my prologue I promise. Just bear with me here.

Because during this time in church, I noticed, while there were a handful of people my age, most of them were already married. Now, my whole intention of going to church wasn't to find a man. Your brain just automatically makes note of these sort of things. Like "oh hey that one is cute and single". Can you guess which one that was? Never really spoke to him though. For 7 months!

Anyways, fast forward to mid-February, I had just started Lent, a season of fasting and devoted prayer, with my best friend, Lillian, and my mom. My focus was solely on Jesus, learning His Way, and learning who I was according to what He had to say about me. I wasn't considering any sort of romance whatsoever. I was convinced I was going to be single for years on after my last relationship hit rock bottom.

It was the Sunday after I announced my decision to be baptized when I truly noticed Brandon for the first time as anything other than "that guy" at church. Of course I knew his name, and we've had polite conversation, but it was never more than that. That Monday, I texted Lillian and said "I think I might like this guy at church". TWO DAYS LATER, he asked me out to dinner Friday night. There's no way we accidentally decided, at the same time, "Hey this person could be it" like that. God was at work here and I'll believe that until the end of my days.

Brandon and I have been practically sewed together at the hip since that first date, and here we are now, planning our forever.

I thank the Lord every day for putting me on this path and for answering my prayers in the most wonderful, unexpected ways.