It all started back in September 2017, during the first week of freshman year at college. Like most freshmen, we were jumping between house parties, trying to meet new people and enjoy the excitement of college life. Abby had been chatting with a few of Mason’s friends—Ryan and Hunter—but somehow, Mason and Abby didn’t talk that night. Little did we know, that would be the beginning of something special. Luckily, a friend of Abby's got his contact information during that night out. The next weekend, Abby reached out to him, and they made plans to meet up with their friend groups. That weekend, something unexpected happened—Mason ended up ditching his friends to spend time with Abby instead. And from there, the connection began. We officially started dating on November 1st, 2017. It’s funny because, all this time, we’ve been celebrating our anniversary on November 9th, thinking it was "the day." It wasn’t until we got engaged that we realized we’d been celebrating it a little bit wrong all along. But hey, that’s part of the charm of our story! Life Together Our time in Eau Claire was unforgettable. We lived with some of our closest friends in a house that was far from perfect but felt like home in all the best ways. The place was always loud, always full of people, and always a little chaotic—but in a way that made every day feel exciting. We had many bonfires, spent way too many nights up late talking nonsense, and built a kind of chosen family there. It was our first real taste of adult life, shared with people we still care about deeply. Then came our first apartment together in White Bear Lake, Minnesota. Just the two of us. It was quiet compared to Eau Claire, but it was a new kind of adventure. We figured out how to live together, how to share space and routines and the little things that add up to real life. Now we’re in Green Bay, Wisconsin, continuing to grow together. Life looks different these days—calmer, maybe a little more grounded—but still full of meaning. We’ve spent these years finding our paths in our careers, navigating the ups and downs side by side. We’ve stayed close with the friends we made back in Eau Claire—people who feel more like family now—and we’ve made countless memories together. Sundays often mean cheering on the Vikings as they (hopefully) beat the Packers, and no matter how busy life gets, we always make time to head back to Minnesota to be with Abby’s family. From cozy dinners and binge-watching our favorite shows to dreaming about what’s next, we’re learning how to build a life that feels like home—together. Family One of the most special parts of our journey has been seeing our families come together. Our families have gotten close in a way we never expected but are endlessly grateful for. It’s an incredible feeling to know we’re surrounded by people who love and support us—not just individually, but as a couple. We both come from families filled with warmth, kindness, and a lot of laughter, and now those families feel like one big extended support system. Knowing that we have such a strong foundation behind us makes this next chapter even more meaningful. We don’t take it for granted. We’ve come a long way from that first week of college, and we’re so excited to keep moving forward—together. Here’s to more memories, more love, and more growth. We can’t wait to see where this journey takes us next!