Hi everyone - we are Rylee and Jonathan!

We first met on the back porch of Collins Hall at Baylor University - the start of a true Baylor love story. We ran in similar friend groups for the majority of the first semester and went on a "date" we were assigned to for a freshman year organization we were both part of. At the end of this "date," Jonathan told Rylee that he thought she was one the coolest girls he’d met. Rylee did not think much of it however during Christmas break of our freshman year, Rylee texted “hey dude” to Jonathan and communication became a lot more consistent. After coming back to campus in the spring, Jonathan began asking Rylee to hang out. The Coffee dates and walks led to our first date at Di Campli's and we began dating in March of 2021. The first semester of us dating was highlighted by a take-a-date to Austin with our best friends, a Baylor national championship in basketball, and a freshman year finale date to Sixty Vines in Dallas! The remainder of college included a lot more take-a-dates and formals, Baylor football games, Pinewood coffee dates, trips to see family in Fort Worth and California, a lot of highs and lows, laughter and tears, fun times and sad times, and everything in between.

More than anything we have truly seen God’s faithfulness in our story and have grown closer together as we both put God first in our lives. For example, Jonathan knows God’s undeserving grace and forgiveness better because of the undeserving grace and forgiveness he has received from Rylee. Rylee understands the Fathers patience and tender heart towards her, as Jonathan has patiently pursued her in all seasons. As we put God at the center of our relationship, we are both sharpened by each other through the Holy Spirit in us, making each of us more like Jesus each day as we abide.

We wanted to end our story by sharing scripture that has marked our relationship. Hebrews 12:1-2 says “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Throughout our relationship, we have learned and are continuing to be refined in laying aside every weight and sin and keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, no matter what circumstance or season of life that we are in. If you read this far, we ask that you would pray this verse over us and that it would reign true in our lives and mark our relationship! We would also ask that you would pray for us in this season of engagement and each day we await November 23rd, we would long for the day that Christ's bride, the church, returns to Him even more.