Hey y’all! It has been awhile since I last did a 5 Things You Didn’t Know post! You can catch up here: #1, #2, #3, #4, and #5! I figured it would be fun to do a round that was all about Hayden and I’s relationship! This should be fun! Let’s get started!!

1. We met when I was in high school!

People often assume Hayden and I met in college since we went to the same university (Go Maryville!), but we actually met before that! I met Hayden 3 weeks before he left for his freshman year at Maryville and right before I started my senior year of high school. I had no intentions of going to Maryville (that’s a whole different story!!). It was so fun to date Hayden in my senior year! For the first time, I had a date for dances and a guy to go to games with. I’m extremely grateful for God’s timing. (Although, at the time, I was really impatient waiting for someone like Hayden.)

2. I didn’t know how to say Klockenga.

Maybe one of the most embarrassing things ever – I had no clue how to say Hayden’s last name (Klockenga) for the first few months we dated. Yeah, that’s awkward. It gets to a certain point in your relationship that you just can’t ask “uhhhhh…how do you say your name?,” and I definitely should have asked. So, for several months I just tried to listen in on how others said it. I TOTALLY and completely understand if you can’t figure out our last name – been there! For clarification, here’s how you say it Clock-N-gay. Hopefully that helps!

3. Hayden is the first and only guy I dated!

When ya know you know. Maybe that’s just me! I’ve always been a person to stick to my gut feeling, and I’m so grateful I waited for Hayden. Dating is definitely a personal (& for me spiritual) decision. I didn’t want to just date someone to date them. Girls, it’s okay to know your worth and wait for a man who sees that and supports that. Be confident in who YOU are and who God created you to be. You don’t need to change to become more valuable to someone – you’re already so valuable because God created you. Stay confident in that!

4. Hayden designed my ring!

When the time came for Hayden to propose, he knelt down, gave a little speech (no clue what he said), and showed me a ring he had designed (yes, cue heart eyes!). We had talked about getting engaged, but we both wanted to make sure the other was genuinely ready for that type of commitment. I didn’t want to pick out a ring because I wanted it to be a complete surprise. I wanted Hayden to select what he had in mind. I can’t believe we’ll be married for 4 years this June!!

5. Speaking of rings, Hayden’s is engraved!

As something fun for our wedding day, I surprised Hayden with his ring at the altar! For an extra special touch, I had it engraved with: Ephesians 5:24. It’s the verse that says, “Wives submit to your husband,” and it was my way of promising to do so to Hayden. I know not everyone believe in this ideology, but I believe the husband is the head of the household. There’s lot of pressure that goes along with that! God calls wives to submit to their husbands, and for husbands to love their wives like Christ. Hayden and I are committed to growing our relationship in Christ and following his commands!

That’s it for now! Stick around for the next 5 Things You Didn’t Know blog post!!

Photo Credits to the wonderful Jessica Lauren Photography!