When I (Anna) started my business, Girl Friday Chattanooga, in the summer of 2021, one of my first clients was Katherine Mayfield. Katherine was in the planning stages of opening a co-working space for women called The Drawing Room in a lovely historic building in Ooltewah, TN. As Katherine and I began working together and getting to know one another, Katherine shared here and there about her younger brother Josh who, at the time, was deployed as a Navy Seabee in the Middle East. Katherine and Josh were becoming close friends as they talked on the phone and encouraged each other, and she was excited about Josh’s return home in September 2021. This meant that Katherine mentioned Josh more and more in conversation, occasionally telling me how she thought Josh and I would get along as we had similar interests like our faith, camping/backpacking, and singing.


We weren’t introduced, though, until December 30, 2021 when Josh attended an Open House at The Drawing Room (TDR) where I was working. I thought he was handsome, but he was in a relationship, and I was convinced I’d be single and solo-traveling for the rest of my life. For the next year we heard about each other through Katherine, and Josh, who was no longer in a relationship, was increasingly intrigued by the girl who worked with his sister—the girl who loved Jesus, was active at her church, enjoyed camping, liked to travel, drank whiskey, and sang. Later Josh told me, “I didn’t know girls like you existed.” To which I responded, “Um, that’s basically me and half of my friends…who have you been hanging out with?!”


So then we started hanging out all the time, right? Nope. The first time we had a real conversation was in October of 2022. I was working alone at TDR when Josh entered looking dashing in his Navy dress uniform. He had stopped by to surprise Katherine but found me instead, so he felt a little awkward. But it gave us a chance to talk and get to know each other a bit. When he told me he was attending a small church plant where he played the guitar and sang, I was impressed. And—I’m a little embarrassed to admit this—when he mentioned something about reformed theology, I thought maybe there was more here than I’d anticipated. I found out later that that “chance” meeting at TDR left an impression on Josh too. He has described to me the vivid memory he has of me closing my laptop and turning my chair around to talk to him.


After that, apparently Josh kept trying to get Katherine to set up another opportunity for us to bump into each other, and it finally happened in December 2022. Except it was an epic fail (from how Josh tells the story, anyways). “Kathy (Katherine) called and asked to borrow my truck to move some furniture to a storage unit. And I thought perfect, this is my chance to hang out with Anna…help them move some stuff…it’ll be great. But no. I got to Kathy’s house, Anna didn’t talk to me or flirt at all, and then Kathy and Anna took my truck and left me at the house to watch all the kids. Definitely not what I had in mind.” (Oops.)


Finally, in April 2023, Josh and his daughters Marybeth and Molly came by TDR to hang out while Katherine and I were working. The three of us sat on the side porch while the girls played, and I had a feeling Josh was observing me, but he was pretty reserved. (Ok, let’s be honest, I was observing him too.) I wasn’t giving him much encouragement, though, because by this time Katherine had divulged to me that Josh had a little crush on me. I was flattered of course, but I had my plan…I was going to stay single.

Undaunted, Josh and Katherine continued to find ways for us to occasionally be around each other. The next month—back at TDR—Katherine invited Josh to come by to help us clean up the space after an event. She was playing match-maker. After the work was done, the three of us sat in the main room, and Katherine knew exactly what to do. She turned on some music, and the three of us sat there listening, harmonizing, recommending other songs, and laughing. (A man who can sing? *um, ok*) Katherine even snuck a picture of the three of us and sent a group text so Josh and I would have each other’s phone number. We knew exactly what she was doing ;) And it worked. We left TDR, and a few minutes later Josh and Katherine called and suggested we all get lunch together. Much to Josh’s chagrin, we went to Ankar’s because I wanted to try it out. Later Josh joked that he was “in” when I called dibs on everyone’s leftovers. Yep, this girl loves free food and saving a buck.


A couple weeks later I texted Josh to see if he was available to help with an event for a client. He had been looking for an opportunity for us to talk again, and this was it. Eventually he asked if I’d be interested in getting together for dinner or a hike—my choice. I chose a hike, and on June 3, 2023 we had our first date. He still teases me for making him wake up early on a Saturday, but in reality he was happy to do it (“It was like Christmas morning” according to Josh.) We met at my place at 7:00 AM, and this sweet man had made coffee for both of us AND packed snacks. He had texted the day before and asked me what snacks I liked so he could get some. I was impressed by his thoughtfulness, planning, and preparedness! Of course I asked for Twizzlers, the best travel treat. We drove up to Dayton to hike at Laurel Falls, and we fell into conversation about our stories, our testimonies, our favorite snacks, and lots of things in between. We had a good time and felt pretty easy around each other. After the hike we had burgers and beer, and he asked if wanted to come by later that evening for a whiskey on the porch. To his surprise (and kind of to mine too) I agreed. It seems we enjoyed being around each other. And so we started dating :)


As you can imagine, there’s lots to tell, but I won’t do that here. By the spring of 2024 we were discussing the possibility of marriage. Josh was positive he wanted to marry me, but I was battling anxiety and fear—something I’ve struggled with my whole life. We broke up Easter weekend and were both pretty miserable for quite some time. We missed each other, but the Lord was faithfully working while we were apart, and it was a good and needed time of reflection and growth for both of us as we looked to the Lord and sought counsel from friends and family. We talked on occasion, and in the fall, Josh asked if I’d be interested in attending the Navy Ball with him in mid October. We’ve been dating since then, and our time spent together has increased as Josh has begun attending church with me at Restoration Southside in Chattanooga. We’re excited to serve there together!


Naturally marriage has been part of the conversation for a while (we’re old, y’all), and I found out that he talked to my parents in mid February about how he’d like to marry me. He already had a ring and was waiting to find the right moment to ask. On March 8, a particularly beautiful Saturday, we drove to the church to help with a spring cleaning event and spent the morning pressure washing the sidewalks. I had no idea that Josh was nervous all morning. After cleaning up and eating lunch, Josh suggested we do something outdoors to enjoy the weather. Yes please! We decided to head up to Lookout Mountain. Our plan to hike at Sunset Rock was foiled, so I tried to find another hike nearby—all the while completely unaware that Josh was trying to find a good time and place to propose. The hike I chose was absolutely dreadful—underwhelming in every way. But we laughed about it and held hands as we walked. After that we decided to drive a little further and spend the late afternoon at our favorite overlook, sitting in a hammock and enjoying some beverages we’d brought with us.


As sunset approached, I was getting a little hungry, and I suggested we leave. Josh said he wasn’t ready to leave yet, and then he seemed to get a little nervous. After a pause, he told me he had a letter he’d been carrying around for weeks and asked if I wanted to hear it. After determining that it was a good letter and not a bad letter, I said I’d like to hear it. As he read his beautiful, heartfelt letter, we both cried, and surprisingly, I still had no idea what was coming—even after he finished the letter and said, “I want to marry you” (To which I said, “I know, babe.” Ha!) It wasn’t until he climbed out of the hammock and got down on one knee that my processing finally caught up. Ooooh he was proposing! I don’t even remember him asking (which he did), but I do remember saying “yes.”


We’re both so grateful for what the Lord has done in our lives, and we pray he continues to work in and through us as we grow closer to each other and our Heavenly Father. And now, let the next adventure begin.