Eric's parents Doug Hunter and Janet Snook get married ! Gorgeous ! And I love that bouquet !

My parents get married ! Dan Cowart to Krisina Thornal ! Stunning. That church does not exist anymore otherwise I was going to look into booking our ceremony there !

Eric Hunter and Britney Goble are married ! The lovebirds met in the pastoral countryside of Berry College after forsaking their basketball careers and taking a leap at their creative endeavors/dreams - acting, photography, and brainiac shenanigans at Emory/CHOA.

Pictured here is Matron of Honor and my best friend, Hannah Faith Greenfield Stevens with Eric's sister, Jen Justice. Hannah is to the right with Jen, they were roommates for two years at Furman University !

Eric's oldest sibling Darin marries Laura Windle in Arkansas !

Jen's wedding to a Georgia native, Josh Justice ! At this point I had become fast friends with Hannah and her husband, Hazen Stevens. I met them in January 2009 at our church in Lawrenceville. At the time this photo was taken, I was studying abroad in Italy with the Lamar Dodd School of Art ! Eric and Brit were 5 years into their wedding photography business, "Milestone Photography." Brit took this photo !

Amarin (one of my two junior bridesmaids) is a new baby ! Jen visits the Stevens at the beloved Russell Road house (I was a frequent guest) to meet their first girl. That house and that season were very special.

Daniel (my oldest brother) and Waverly Hasty are the first in my family to be married in Charlotte, North Carolina !

During the three-ish year window of 2014 to 2017, for very many reasons, I walked away from the faith I had long held close. Pictured here is a moment in time with my dear friend and one of my matrons of honor, Lael Rush True, trying out for the TV show, The Voice ! Lael is among the cast of characters that continued to deeply love me so well while I was on the run from God, questioning & testing everything I had known.

My sister Grace is the second of us to be married in the spring of 2015 to a Mr. Davis Brown !

I'm living in Atlanta working at Ponce City Market, I have the worst haircut of my life to date but cleverly disguise it by wearing my hair down (most of the time !). Start to ride my bicycle everywhere I go- in fact I biked to this half marathon from Grant Park to Centennial Olympic Park, ran the half, then biked home ! Post-race rest was good that day. :)

Brandon (Eric's brother in law) and Brit at his wedding to Nancy Johnson !

Emily, my sister, gets married to love of her life, Frazier Woodruff, at the majestic location that is Neverland Farms ! At the time I was living in New York.

I bike across the country with two of my dear friends and roommates from New York, Austin Lite and Diane Perre ! One of my favorite things I've ever participated in and I do fully intend on doing something like this with Eric in the future. <3

Bike trip is over, reintegrating in New York work-wise was like starting from scratch. Diane, my cross country bike tour mate, insisted that for her last Thanksgiving in the States, she wanted to celebrate it with my family in Florida. Sasha (another bridesmaid, hails from Australia) joined and it was an absolute treasure and blessing to have them there with me. That week felt like years of therapy due to the nature of conversations that took place. It was a meaningful and pivotal time.

Meaningful birthday visit number 1, Molly Kennedy flew in from Denver. Such an extravagant gesture of generosity, love and kindness. One of the many faces of Jesus towards me over the years. Now you know what the face of Jesus looks like surrounded by thousands of light blue plastic spheres !

Meaningful birthday visit number 2 ! Here is mom and I at MOMA, of course had to include this photo of us with Starry Night. My biggest memory from this visit was mom's extravagant generosity. She did the most on this vacation to make me feel valuable ! I heard today this thought, that you notice the stars more when the night sky is at its darkest. Interesting parallels and themes that continue to circulate. God is the original poet !

I'm sure all of us remember exactly where we were when the pandemic paranoia reached our doorsteps ! As it stands right now, I think all of us are much different people than we were almost 5 years ago. What a time. I was incredibly blessed to be able to flee New York, made a brief stop in Atlanta, then stayed at my parents' place at the beach for 8 straight weeks. If this story were a TV show, I would call this season "The Comeback Tour." All of my family at different times from March until May came to the coast. We did a LOT of renovating the beach house, made a lot of artwork, made a lot of unforgettable meals, and had a lot of deep connecting accompanied with a lot of beginnings of healing.

Just a few more snapshots from this turning point season. One of my maids of honor (Kelley Olson) and bridesmaids (Lo Wolcott) are pictured here. We didn't know it at the time, but Kelley and I were in very parallel "come to Jesus" seasons. She has been an enormous influence, support, and champion as I have journeyed OFF of the "Hot Mess Express" and ON to the "Holy Ghost Choo Choo Train !"

One more for the road because I cannot emphasize the importance of this season. Though there was so much turbulence globally (and really it had not yet escalated as much as it was going to), this was a season of healing and binding for my family, in my opinion. I have long had the conviction that loving well starts within the four walls of your home, starts in your family. I just told my students this week that if we can learn to love well here, loving others outside of the home is 1,000 times easier. It's easy to forget that Jesus had brothers and sisters, an extended family just like us, where he demonstrated being in relationship in perfect love (what a thing that would have been to witness !). It is a constant day by day walking with Him that makes it possible for us to love well, to ask for forgiveness, to truly forgive, to deepen these channels of supernatural love that conquers death.

My younger brother James Cowart marries his true love, Becky Cunningham ! It was such a beautiful, memorable day !

This was a line-in-the-sand moment. The turning back to God stirrings and intimations had begun already starting in the spring of 2020. Internally I felt "not holy enough for church, but holy enough for country music." This earthquake of a moment was one where we thought we might lose my granddad, in fact, we all came to his town to say our goodbyes. We were allowed to visit him in his room because they had issued a DNR. I remember being in and out of the hospital with my mom, aunt, grandmother and others... the memory and impression I had in that moment was that without his faith, and without his family - what else does he have ?! It was clear that those two things alone were all that sustained him, they were all he had and has. I remember FaceTiming a friend and sharing with her, "I have to believe this stuff !" That was a line of demarcation though I continued to falter and fight and slip while God was reeling me back to shore (to Hannon's dock, specifically).

A journal entry from that time. The road was long returning to health, but God did spare my granddad ! A miracle and blessing to all of us.

Brit, after 17 years of marriage to Eric, goes home to the Lord on this day. She was 39 years old.

I officially moved from New York with the help of Waverly (my sister in law) in September 2020. From then until June 2023, I became my best iteration of the band Florida Georgia Line - a few months in GA, a few months in FL, back and forth. God used this beautiful season to do heaps and heaps of pursuing me with His cords of lovingkindness. Many, many beach walks with God, picking up trash and treasure on the shore, much listening to podcasts, time with Zuzu solidifying my fairy dogmotherhood, time with children living that auntie godmother life. Pictured are a few of the many faces through which I experienced God's mercy and lovingkindness. Hazen Stevens, husband to Hannah, is going to officiate Eric's and my ceremony. This was his & Amarin's first time to Saint Teresa where he was invited to preach at beach church ! I finally packed up and left living at the beach in the summer of 2023 with the help of my sister, Annie Cowart !

In a plot twist no one saw coming, or at least I absolutely did not see this coming, I applied for the Art Teacher position at Perimeter School within weeks of moving back in with my family. This was at the prodding and encouragement from a dear friend and one of my bridesmaids, Mrs. Britney Ray. Britney and I met at UGA in the art program and amongst our hoard of friends. I absolutely would not have applied without her suggesting it, and there were SO, so so so so many things that were undeniably God in the process. One thing, for instance, was that the preceding yearbook imagery was an anchor IN THE OCEAN. I essentially had just spent 3 years at the ocean. Only God can create details like that, and details that mean a whole lot to me ! My first year of teaching was Perimeter's (my alma mater) 40th year as a school. Another thing I absolutely saw as significant.

I did not have a clear memory of being baptized. I did re-baptize myself in the ocean in the summer of 2020, but on this journey "back to God" it was highlighted to me to at some point to publicly make this declaration. I definitely did not want to do this prematurely, but wanted to approach this holy matter with clear eyes and a clear heart. Through love and courage and covering from key people (again, God's storyline of lovingkindness), I was at this point regularly attending church again. Fun aside, Eric was playing with the band this day at church and he remembered me telling my story.

It's spring break time ! Per my parent's unending generosity, I was able to host my dear friends at their beach house in Florida, a sanctuary for us all. This was Hazen and Amarin's second visit, everyone else's first. While the topic of Eric had formerly been suggested once, the idea of connecting us resurfaced again during this holiday. Eric and I were both in a place of willingness and availability to be set up, so Hazen connected our numbers and Eric set the date for our first meeting, April 11 !

This is a mirror selfie from the elevator after meeting my newest niece, Halle ! Eric's and my first date took place on April 11, and, lo and behold, Halle was born that same day ! This picture is from when I first met Halle, April 13, which happens to be my other niece, Shiloh's birthday ! I do not have a photo from Eric's and my first date, but we met at Divine Coffee and talked for hours until I had to relocate because afternoon coffee with no substantial meal was making me shaky. I said, "I'm going to get dinner, you're welcome to go with me if you want but for now I need to wrap things up." Eric followed me to my parents' house and we rode together to my family's go-to Mexican place where our date continued for a few more hours ! Eric knew after this day that he didn't want to be just a friend of mine.

I am pretty positive this is our first photograph. Eric took me to this Chinese place near the Mall of Georgia, we went from there to Season's 52 just down the road to continue the date and continue the sharing. I remember the last part of our time together was talking in the parking lot at church. I made a joke and got a really deep, genuine laugh out of him which I was proud of then and clearly am still proud of now. :) My memory says that this was also the date that at some point, and I do believe it was at Season's 52 because I can see Eric saying it in my mind's eye, but Eric shared that Brit would have loved me. Last, particular to this night, Eric says he remembers me singing and knew then that he was in potentially deep & irreversible trouble.

My youngest brother Luke gets married to love of his life, Cassidy Jones ! Luke & Cassidy generously let me bring Eric as my date though it had been less than a month. Very grateful !!!

At Luke's wedding !

Right after school ended, I went straight to the beach for about 2 weeks ! It was such a gift to share time with family and friends, and I honestly loved what continued to take shape between Eric and myself during this time apart.

After so many days, however, Eric was ready for me to return to my passenger princess ways !

I joined just for a day on Eric's annual family vacation to the middle of nowhere ! They gave me an incredibly warm welcome & got straight to work having meaningful conversations. I texted my sister Emily this day with this photo saying, "I think this is going somewhere."

Eric and I took a quick trip to New York to see an exhibit, to see RFK Jr. be interviewed, and we fortunately were able to meet up with some of my core people. The first "I love you" was uttered, I'll let y'all guess whodunnit. We happened upon more than one unbelievable occasion of God's generous & precise serendipity, it was the perfect whirlwind tour. Even with this - we missed our first flight out getting there ! The night preceding we had made the choice to burn the candle both ways and had a massive sharing time with my family that Saturday, the 23rd. Eric came straight from his family vacation to my parents' place, we talked and talked and talked and ended up even all singing together at the end of the night with Eric on keys. I woke up the next morning (because Luke and Eric found me and woke me up) not even having packed my bag yet, haha ! The way that Eric handled us missing our flight was a MASSIVE green light for me. I remember when the plane was ascending having this "Oh my stars .... is it really you ?!" kind of thought. The possibility of Eric being my future husband that day started to gently, quietly take root.

On the stoop with Austin where we used to live together in Brooklyn ! It meant so much to me for Eric to meet Austin & for us to share time in this incredibly special place together. This was a perfect day and also, our outfits rocked !

This incredible summer ended with the incredible opportunity to visit a dear friend (and fellow bike riding champion) Diane in Paris where she lives ! Austin joined, it was the first time we had all be been together since having a going away party for Diane in December 2019 right before the craziness of 2020. So much has happened for all of us, including that little man in the center of this photo: Diane's precious son, Elias ! It was my first time getting to meet him in person. This visit was yet another perfect trip, a deep gift to share this time with these friends that are family.

Eric picked me up from the airport & we directly headed down to Florida for a fishing excursion with my granddad for his 94th birthday. Luke taught Eric the fisherman's touch !

This day was just a few sleeps before the school year with students began. On this Thursday, I happened to swing by my parents' place at an unexpected time, only to be in the kitchen seeing Eric show up at an unexpected time. I asked, "Why are you here ?" To which he responded, "Why are YOU here ?!" It became clear in that moment in my mind that maybe perhaps he was there to ask my dad for my hand, and it turns out I was right ! This photo is us later that day just savoring the moment.

4 months after Eric set up our first date, he asked the Question ! In the words of Edward Bloom from Big Fish, "Sometimes the only way to catch an uncatchable woman is to offer her a wedding ring." We had just had a fantastic weekend - on Saturday I had had co-workers over to my parents' place during the day, they were there for hours, we fellowshipped and swapped stories. Sunday evening I made a fire in the back yard to say goodbye to summer. It was at some point that evening that Eric decided that the time was ripe - at a moment that I stepped inside he phoned his parents and asked them to bring the ring to where we were. They threw the ring in Eric's car, I returned to the fire, within minutes Eric had whipped out my guitar and started to sing a song he clearly had written to propose. It was an out body experience for me: the tears were flowing and I had one foot on the earth, hanging on every word. We met on the ground out of the chairs and I said, "OBVIOUSLY YES !" Zuzu couldn't help but insist on being in our first family photo.

Celebratory FaceTimes and phone calls and flowers over wine !

I was advised to "enjoy this time, don't start planning straight away"..... after the very long, long, long, long, long, long, long, LONG wait for my future husband, I simply did not heed that advice, haha ! This is our first meeting starting to plan our wedding day and our life together thereafter !

Within the week of Eric proposing I had a flurry of ideas - hard to believe, I know ! Among them was inviting my students to our wedding ceremony, along with inviting the girls to be flower girls. Without having said a word to anyone but Eric, I walked in to my Monday morning class and was handed this note from some of my 5th grade girls. I texted this photo to Eric, he said, "You guys are on the same wavelength !"

Eric and I scooted down to Tallahassee for my cousin Merritt and her best friend Maclain's 40th birthday celebration, the theme was "high school." One of my former cross country girls generously let me borrow her Wesleyan uniform and Eric wore his Providence soccer shirt ! We stayed with dear friend, Kelley Olson. That weekend was a gift to connect with my Tallahassee family & for all of them to meet Eric for the first time after months of hearing about the man !

I am not slowly and very unsurprisingly becoming a big fan of the convertible passenger princess lifestyle !

Dinner with some of the greats AKA my parents !

Baptizing Eric in country music meeting Cassidy & Luke to see Midland in Atlanta ! Eric picked me up from Hartsfield-Jackson & we drove straight to the venue - packing it all in, no time to lose !

Eric sings the song he wrote to me to one of my 6th grade classes after participating in our project that day.

Another "40 years" thing ! I am going to be wearing my mom's dress for the ceremony on April 12. It has been in a box since her wedding, this night we unboxed it after it laying dormant for 40 years. It was a special, sacred night made even more special in being surrounded by sacred family and friends... and Leslie Thompson's out of this world jalapeño cornbread ! Becca Lightfoot, one of my maids of honor, gifted me with this DARLING bridal cake ! Incredible moment captured on film by the one and only Emily Woodruff (my sister).

En atelier Delfina Balda in Brooklyn for wedding elements. "Le Petit Prince" moments showing up in unexpected places. :)

More dearest friends from the tapestry of a lifetime meeting for the first time ! Lindsay is one of my honorary matrons of honor. She is sister to Anna Pierson, one of my college roommates & honorary bridesmaids. Lindsay and I became fast friends in 2013 during Anna's wedding season.

Dear friends Melissa and Hannah helping me turn some "to-do's" into "ta-DONE's !!!"

Getting intermittent photos from Eric as he reads through a journal I started for my future husband in college. The wait has been long and the journey has been dynamic, to say the least. How God brings beauty from absolute ashes is such mystery AND such hope !

Gorgeous dinner put on by my sisters, sisters in law and mom to speak words over Eric's and my future. Holy times !

Meeting more of the Hunter/Justice family and getting to see my future nieces in the production, "Annie !"

Signed a lease ! Though there is next to nothing in the house and only Eric is living there for now, once you roast a chicken that means you are home ! Such a gift to have found a good place to land during this year of coming covenant and transition !

A day of reconnecting with our roots ! Before this dinner, Eric and I also met up with Bill Bufton - his coach from when he hooped at Providence Christian Academy. Did you all know that Eric still holds multiple basketball records ? Also he was salutatorian ! Just sayin' ! ;)

Eric spends thanksgiving with the Gobles, I spend it with the Browns ! :)

Celebrating the one and only Aunt Britt for her 50th birthday ! Her daughters (in the wedding party, Britt too !) did an incredible job coordinating and executing a simply gorgeous and meaningful celebration ! Eric I think took this photo - wanted to include it because Pia and her daughter Zara flew in from Denmark. I tell Britt frequently that she is the best thing that happened to the Cowart family. I know Copenhagen misses her sorely, but we needed her !

Dinner with the admin queen herself, my sister in law and one of my matrons of honor, Waverly Cowart ! We took a moment to catch up, celebrate and get my head straight & heart grounded. Came there dizzy over the to-do's, left feeling 1000% more at ease and excited about ev er y thing !

I have one annual Christmas tradition and that is seeing the Burchfield family perform their holiday show at Eddie's Attic in Decatur. Every year I wonder how they can top the last year but they always do ! Also the Cowart "being late everywhere" thing is clearly a habit of the past because we were a solid hour and a half early, haha !

First hair appointment to talk day of wedding look !

Unforgettable bachelorette/birthday weekend with my absolute best ! Did not get a photo with us all, but the memories made this weekend are indelibly etched on all our hearts, spirits.

Hannah, Melissa, & Jen host a gorgeous shower at the Stevens home. I won't tell you what we ate because I do not want you to have crippling, irrecoverable fomo ! (The Lord makes the world spin a little slower when Hannah cooks, ensuring that all have time enough to savor.)

The ATL-based men get together for Top Golf, which progressed into an evening of tabletop shuffleboard, bowling and laser tag ! Eric showed up well for 2 of the 4. If you know him, you'll guess which 2. (He still has at least one intramural champion bowling t-shirt from Berry College. He went back to back in '01 & '02!) It was a great night and a chance for many of the guys to meet for the first time.