Taylor recalls a conversation she had with one of her pastors right before moving to Washington, D.C., in 2017. He told her, “You are going to move to D.C. and meet your husband.” Looking back on her time in Washington, D.C., Taylor didn’t meet her husband, but she did meet her future in-laws. This is the beginning of Taylor and Wyatt’s story.

Taylor’s relationship with both Ed and Dinah Thomas, beginning in 2018, led to her invitation to Ed’s military retirement after 33 years in the Air Force. Taylor remembers taking note of “Capt. Wyatt Thomas” leading the retirement ceremony. Her first impression of Wyatt was the most moving testament to God’s work in his father’s life through the giving of his retirement speech.

Wyatt was immediately captivated when he first laid eyes on Taylor. Love at first sight, some might say, as their connection was instantaneous and undeniable.

The evening of the retirement ceremony, during the retirement party, not one, not two, not even three, but four different people (family and friends) went up to Wyatt encouraging him to get to know Taylor. Wyatt did everything within his power to spend as much time as possible in Taylor's company that night. For those who know Taylor, she even let her food get cold because the conversation was so captivating. Their shared moments that night culminated in a dance under the Texas night sky, the last dance of the evening, sealing a connection that seemed preordained.

Their love story continued to unfold the following day at a family picnic, where long conversations about God’s work in their lives and shared laughter deepened their connection. As they spent four hours floating the river and conversing, they were blissfully unaware that the entire family was watching with bated breath. Wyatt's mother, Dinah, had been wishing for this moment to happen for years.

As their river adventure came to an end, Wyatt mustered the courage to ask Taylor to have breakfast with him the next morning. The next morning, their conversations flowed effortlessly, a testament to their connection. Time seemed to stand still as they talked, sharing stories of God’s redeeming love in their lives, dreams, and laughter.

After that memorable breakfast, Wyatt was extremely clear with his intentions and asked Taylor to meet him in Birmingham in three weeks to spend the weekend with him. Taylor quickly agreed. As they returned from breakfast, Wyatt's dad (Ed) inquired about what he thought of Taylor. Wyatt's response was filled with confidence and determination: "I am going to marry that girl."

Two weeks of long phone conversations passed after their meeting in Texas, and Wyatt couldn't wait any longer to see Taylor. He bought a plane ticket to Memphis with plans to take her to lunch and fly back the same day, knowing she had to work most of Friday and Saturday. However, all flights were canceled the night before his journey due to bad weather conditions.

Undeterred, Wyatt embarked on an early morning road trip, driving seven hours to Memphis to take Taylor to lunch. When her parents heard about his plans to drive to Memphis, they insisted he stay for the weekend. Wyatt spent most of the weekend getting to know Steve and Becky West, with small moments with Taylor between her work meetings. Moments that he treasured and maximized.

By the end of that weekend, both Taylor and Wyatt recognized God was guiding their hearts, and they knew that their lives were to be intertwined, moving toward a future filled with love and commitment.

Throughout the summer, Wyatt continued to make the long drive to Memphis, falling in love not only with Taylor but also with her family.

On September 27th, Wyatt asked Steve West for his daughter’s hand in marriage. On the 14th of October, beneath the starry Florida sky and a sea of twinkle lights, he proposed to Taylor on the beach after dark, sealing their love and commitment to God and each other.

Their journey continues as they prepare to exchange vows on March 23rd in Memphis, Tennessee. Theirs is a love story that may sound like it's straight out of a Hallmark movie, but it's rooted in the belief that nothing is too big for God's grace, kindness, and mercy. In the end, love always finds a way, and Taylor and Wyatt's story is a testament to that enduring truth.

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