Mike & Maddi

First of all, I had so many people respond to my question about what you guys wanted to know about me & my honey, so THANK YOU!!! I will try to answer as many as I can in this blog!

Today Michael and I are celebrating 3 YEARS together, sooo exciting! AHHHH, where do I even begin? I met Michael when I was 14 years old, sitting in my spanish class freshman year of high school. I eyed him from a distance because I was a year younger (and too nervous to ever tell him I could possibly be interested). We talked maybe once in that class on a day when we were supposed to be reading in spanish as partners but I refused and used the time to ask about his interests/himself instead! For almost the next two years, I went to basketball games and watched him play, saw him occasionally in the hallway, but ultimately went our separate ways. Until one day I got a phone call from a friend telling me “a little birdie told me that Michael McKinney is interested in dating you” I HAD NO CLUE HE EVEN KNEW I EXISTED STILL, but turns out, he had been eyeing me as well this whole time! He was always the guy I dreamed I would date but never thought I would get to, and my dreams were becoming my reality. First date was perfect and so we decided to go on many many more. Fast forward to today, and well, our first date was nearly 4 years ago! To answer one of y’alls questions, yes, of course we are talking about marriage and it will be sooner rather than later ;). Another one of you guys asked what our biggest struggle is, to be honest, we don’t argue very much at all (almost never). But I would say our biggest difference is our personality types, he is very confident in all of his endeavors, believes that confrontation is the way to go, and processes emotion different than I do. I am for suuuuuure a people pleaser and love to make people happy at whatever expense, I would rather seek peace even if that avoids confrontations, and I process emotion super quick, in one side of my brain, and out the other. I am a pretty resilient human in general. Although sometimes those differences may cause conflict, we mesh really well in the majority of life’s battles. His weaknesses are my strengths and his strengths are my weaknesses. Overall, we have a very REAL relationship with each other and he is hands down my best friend. One thing that matters a lot to us in our relationship and I believe every relationship needs is we try every day to put God first. God comes before Michael to me, and God comes before me to Michael. Sometimes days are better than others, and that is okay. My favorite part about us, is that when I come to him, I am me. I don’t have to be anyone other than me, and he loves even the goofy, emotional, messy parts of me just as much as he loves when I am all put together. Every single relationship has it’s ups and downs regardless of what social media shows you. But at the end of the day he checks off every single one of the “future husband” traits/qualities I have wanted my whole life-and more! Here’s to all of the adventures, trials, memories, highs, and lows to come. I can’t wait to see what amazing things we do with this life we have been given together!