I am so excited to introduce you to the loveliest lady I know, my beautiful best friend, Natalie Mayo.

Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve dreamed of meeting a girl who loves the Lord, whom I could start a family with, someone whose goals and values and dreams match mine. Someone who is incredibly beautiful… and yet very wholesome and modest. Someone who is dazzlingly brilliant and intellectual… and yet sweet and humble. Someone who is serious about the important and eternal things in life… and yet not afraid to laugh and enjoy each fleeting moment that God has given us to rejoice in. Someone who wants to work hard and make a difference in the world… and who also sees the roles of wife and mother as significant ways to do that.

“An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.” – Proverbs 31:10

If there’s one thing I have noticed and loved about Natalie, ever since I met her, it’s that she seeks after excellence in every area of her life. My first contact with her was through her doctrinal website (which you’re currently visiting), in which she so thoughtfully ponders and shares the personal attributes of God and how they should truly shape our lives. I first fell in love with her thinking and her writing; she’s a nerdy Christian homeschooler like me, and when I first sent her that 922-word essay on Christmas to ask further about her beliefs, she composed the most engaging and caring message in return… a 1,244-word email that arrived just a few hours later, and she blew me away in her depth and devotion to the Lord. Whatever her hand finds to do, she does it with all her strength. (Ecclesiastes 9:10)

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!” – Ecclesiastes 4:11

I have been longing for a friend whose gifts and desire for creative ministry and discipleship complement my own… someone whom I can trust to have my back in a firefight, when we’re in the trenches together, serving the Lord as one. Never have I experienced such joy and been so inspired to continue growing in my relationship with God first and foremost as when I’m with this young lady… her perseverance, her faithfulness to follow Jesus even when it hurts, her boldness and willingness to step out and take risks in order to advance His kingdom and bring blessings to those around her… her desire to speak the truth and set people free, even when they mock her and try to bring her down… I have never met such a woman so fiercely dedicated and committed to giving her life for God’s glory, and it’s the most attractive thing I’ve ever seen.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” – Philippians 4:8

Over the last seven months, Natalie’s patience and kindness and encouragement and love are what God has often used to bolster and bless me… I find her so lovely, inside-and-out, and she draws my eyes, not just to her own beauty, but especially to His. I have been so blessed to get to know this treasure of a woman, this incredibly smart and funny girl who is such a delight to me.

“He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the LORD.” – Proverbs 18:22

I was blessed to visit with her again this July, and I asked Natalie if she would be my wife… now I’m all the more excited and greatly rejoicing, because she said ‘yes!’ I will get to meet with my best friend in front of the altar and we’ll kiss for the first time… I’ll get to keep her and love on her for the rest of my life. Rejoice with me, for God is so good and He’s brought this amazing lady into my life to stay.

~ Cole Edmonson

It was Christmas morning, 2019. I woke up feeling completely alone, and over a thousand miles from home. I snapped a photo of my empty fireplace and captioned it with a joke about singlehood and “Santa only left me coal.” A few hours later, I noticed I had a new email in my Berean Holiness account. Little did I know the following words were about to radically change my life:

“…I’ve read most of the articles on the site, and you guys have a very straightforward, personable, and comprehensive writing style that captures each topic so well. Your attention-to-detail in comparing each given tenet/claim of Holiness teaching to the Word of God is superb, while the pacing keeps my attention… 

“I find you, your values, and your interests to be highly attractive, and I wanted to ask you a few questions to see if this might go anywhere…”

Upon completing his articulated, point-by-point essay on why he believed we may be compatible, the 26-year-old left me links to his home church and statement of faith, the pro-life organization where his bio described him as the Marketing and Communications Coordinator, his social media accounts, and his page on SermonAudio. I listened to one of his sermons and by the time I finished my decision was made—I had to give this man a chance.

The last eight months have been an incredible ride. We’ve done everything in our power to get to know each other as thoroughly as possible: emails that take 3 hours to write, weekend flights in and out of Colorado, temporarily moving to Oregon, theological discussions that last until 7am, grilling each other’s friends and family members with questions, and much more. 

I am now confident that my heart is not only being pursued by a nerdy homeschooler, but by one of the godliest, kindest, most compassionate, considerate, genuine, intelligent, ministry-minded, young men I’ve ever been privileged to know. 

When he asked me to be his wife, I couldn’t think of a reason in the world to turn him down. I’m convinced we’ll work better together for our Lord than we could ever do apart. We share strong family values and a deep love for the Body of Christ. We both greatly value outreach, discipleship, Bible study, and fellowship. We bring unique skill sets to the table; we can hardly wait to combine them in an effort to serve churches, nonprofits, and ministries for the glory of God.

As for that coal Santa brought me last Christmas? Well, I didn’t just get coal, I met Cole. And leave Santa out of it, this miracle can only be attributed to God. ❤️

~ Natalie Anne Mayo