Wedding Date

The wedding is planned for August 2, 2014.

Our Love Story

Way back in 5th grade...This story actually begins in Ms. McCratic's fourth grade classroom where we first met and became fast friends. We have pictures of us sitting together in class and at Jacob's Fear Factor birthday party. I even still have some drawings that he made for me in class. So, in fourth grade, if you had to like a boy, I did like him the best! But, the real story began in fifth grade. In January, the plans were being made for a Valentines Day Sock Hop that would take place out at the Camp Siloam campground. We work there every summer now, so it's funny how life comes back full circle. Anyway, I came into my classroom one day and on my desk was an envelope with my name on it. Jacob was at home with the flu, but had asked his Mom to deliver the envelope to school for him because he needed to ask me something before anyone else could. Inside the envelope was a handwritten card with an invitation to the upcoming Sock Hop Dance! It even had a heart drawn on it and the words inside melted mine, "I like you very much!". I took the card home to show my parents and learned that Jacob had already asked my Dad's permission to ask me to the dance. I loved my card very much and quickly circled the "Yes" option. In fact, I loved it a little too much! I say that because, the more I was exposed to the sweet little card, the more I was literally exposed to the gift that Jacob had unknowingly left on it! In 5 days, the exact incubation period...you guess it, Jacob gave me the first gift he ever gave me...the FLU! So, Jacob missed that whole week of school and I missed the next one! He did bring me flowers to apologize for giving me the flu and we still recovered in time to practice enough to win the sock hop dance contest and be voted Sock Hop King and Queen! From there, it was destiny...The next big chapter in our lives was Middle School. What can I say about Middle School? We survived it! It was our first real school dance...followed by many more and even ending our senior prom as the prom king and queen! I sat through a lot of football games. He sat through a lot of softball games. We hung out with a great group of friends, most of which are in our wedding party. Youth group at church became a huge part of our lives. In fact, I would say that youth group is where we began our journey of serving the Lord together! We threw back to school Luau parties at the end of each summer and were the happening party each New Years Eve. Thus began traditions that lasted all the way through high school. Our high school years were fun! I sat through every football game, even in the rain and cold and Jacob kept the books for my summer softball teams and ran the scoreboard for all my high school games. Church camp and youth group became an even bigger part of our lives as we sought the Lord for our futures and our future together. There were OM practices, competitions and trips. There were marching band contests and parades, including a trip to Pasadena, California to march in the Rose Bowl Parade. Great times and great memories! Senior year was a fun blur of sports, homecoming, friends, prom and graduation. It was also in high school that Jacob realized that God has called him to full time ministry. So, we set our sights on Ouachita Baptist University, where we felt that God had called us to begin the next chapter of our lives in service to him and of course a little more football and softball! So here we are in Arkadelphia, Arkansas at OBU (Go Tigers!), trusting God for our future together and excited for everything He has planned for our lives!

The Proposal

It was homecoming weekend at OBU! Our parents were all coming down for the weekend. After the football game we all had tickets to Tiger Tunes. After Tiger Tunes, we were all going out to eat. Much to my Mom's chagrin, I wore a t-shirt, shorts and my hair in a ponytail, after all it was only Tiger Tunes and I just wanted to go eat at the Hamburger Barn! It's not like anything special was going on! LOL! Jacob just rolled with it, because we love the burger barn (not like there are fancy places to choose from around here) and wore a t-shirt and shorts as well. What was supposed to happen was Farmer (Jacob's Best Man) was to deliver a bouquet of roses to the restaurant that would be delivered to our table by the waitress. Then, our friends were going to come in all around our table at which point Jacob would say, "the flowers are not all I have for you" and pull out the ring. Well, you know what they say about plans...ha! The food actually came early (thus quesadilla in hand in the pictures! LOL!). I actually saw all the friends before the flowers arrived and was very confused about what was going on! But, Jacob took it in stride and quickly explained his intentions and got down on one knee, ring in hand. He explained to me that he had no idea what the future holds or where God would have him go, he just knew who he wanted to go with...ME! Of course, I said "YES!", surrounded by our families and friends, and put on my beautiful engagement ring...and thus began our Happily Ever After! FYI, this caused great excitement at the Hamburger Barn! Total strangers were taking our picture and we were informed that to the best of anyone's knowledge, this was the first ever marriage proposal at the Hamburger Barn! We just laugh, knowing that for us...it was perfect!

Wedding Location

Sager Creek Community Church in Siloam Springs.

Bride's Hometown or City of Residence

Siloam Springs, Arkansas

Groom's Hometown or City of Residence

Siloam Springs, Arkansas

Bride's Parents and City of Residence

Mike and Tamera Holmes of Siloam Springs, Arkansas

Bride's Grandparents and City of Residence

The bride is the granddaughter of Jim and Janeen Burgess of Kansas, Oklahoma and the late Wayne and Ruth Holmes.

Bride's Employment and Education

The bride is a graduate of Siloam Springs High School and attends Ouachita Baptist University where she is an Elementary Education Major and plays for the OBU Lady Tiger Softball team. She is currently employed at Camp Siloam.

Groom's Parents and City of Residence

David and Carla Engel of Siloam Springs.

Groom's Grandparents and City of Residence

Jacob is the grandson of James and Helen Gilbreath of Paris, Arkansas and Gerald and Diana Engel of Russellville, Arkansas.

Groom's Employment and Education

The groom is a graduate of Siloam Springs High School and also attends Ouachita Baptist University where he is a Christian Studies Major and plays for the OBU Football team. He is currently employed at Camp Siloam.

Engagement Info October 12, 2013 Arkadelphia, Arkansas Wedding Info August 2, 2014