Back in 2017, we were just high school seniors, part of the same friend group that became snapchat friends by the end of the year (important later). We spent the last few months of high school getting to know each other playing card games and tubing on the lake with friends the summer before college started. We stayed friends and occasionally checked in through the first 2 years of college but it wasn't until Kayla posted her cousins Gabe, Ean and Owen (who also happened to go to Mills' home church, CCC) on Thanksgiving 2019 that he swiped up on her snapchat and our story truly begins... Not long after- we were walking out after leaving one of our close friend's house, but neither one had the nerve to say much... Mills then FaceTimed immediately after we both got home to ask Kayla on a "proper date" to which we went to Six Flags, walked out in the rain, and got ice cream in late December. Early on, we both realized how our personalities and outlooks were so similar, how quickly our views aligned, and how easy it was to be with each other. We dated all through junior and senior year of college- filled with picnics (thanks covid), movies, lake days, lots of game nights, sorority events, graduations but also lots of FaceTime calls as covid restrictions let up and we became "medium"-distance relationship. After Mills graduated in December 2021, he moved to Warner Robins for work while Kayla was just finishing her first year of medical school, allowing us the simple joys of being close. Medical school and Warner Robins brought new challenges, difficult roommates, housing difficulties (iykyk), and lots of stress and loss. We grew as a couple and truly relied on God's provision and open doors for our next steps. Now we can't wait to celebrate this big transition with all of our closest friends and family and to enter into the next chapter together.

02/20/2023 I met with Kayla's parents to discuss a potential "birthday gift" for Kayla. That night I asked for their blessing over our future engagement and marriage. We laughed and cried (happy tears) and discussed the future with great excitement late into the night. 03/07/2023 I began sourcing where to find the perfect ring. Kayla and I had been visiting jewelry stores the past 4 months and she had clearly communicated what she wanted which made the vision very clear to execute. 05/11/2023 I procured the ring! I used my lunch breaks the past few weeks to go to the jewelry store to make changes, check in, and other miscellaneous things. Today was the day I brought the ring home in my possession. (then immediately hid it in my room from potential prying eyes) 05/15/2023 I scheduled the engagement, photographer, and post-engagement party to happen on May 28th. 5/27/23 I went ahead and scoped out the engagement location with the photographer and we hatched our plan of where to propose 5/28/23 Engagement day!! Kayla was completely unaware the events of the day as she was in the depths of Step 1 studying. Throughout the day, Paula started cleaning the house and making plenty of dishes for the party later, right under the nose of Kayla studying upstairs. I invited Kayla to Carrabba's as I had a "giftcard that was expiring" as a ploy to get her to dress up. As we were about to leave, we diverted to "spy" on "Jeb and a girl" hanging out at Line creek nature trail (which also happened to be the location of our 3rd date). To be extra believable, Jeb's car was parked and he was hidden amongst the bushes. Then we walked out onto the pier area where I popped the question. We took so many sweet pictures and sat to talk through the process and savor the moment together. We then went back home to a full house (to Kayla's surprise) including high school and college friends, family from all over (including Andrew and Catie from AZ). We ate, played games, and celebrated with family well into the night!