Kristin and Jackson first crossed paths during orientation week at the Carver College of Medicine. One evening, a group of older students organized a not-so-official “scavenger hunt” around Iowa City. By chance, or maybe by fate, they met at the final stop, Brother’s Bar. Jackson’s team had just won first place, while Kristin’s finished in third. Ever the charmer, Jackson walked right up to Kristin and asked what a California girl like her was doing in Iowa. That bold question sparked an instant connection. There seemed to be a magnetic pull between, they seemed to frequently bump into each other at social events, trading witty banter and flirty jokes that made these moments unforgettable. For a while, they remained friends, at least on the surface. Kristin sensed there was something special between them, but Jackson took a little longer to realize what everyone else could already see—that these two were a perfect match. Finally, at their first medical school prom, Jackson asked Kristin to dance. They brokeout their ballroom moves, and the chemistry that night were impossible to ignore. Shortly after, Jackson decided to stop fighting what he knew in his heart, telling Kristin he was “all in” in giving their relationship a shot! They spent their first date sharing pizza at Maggie's Farm and tipping pins at colonial lanes bowling alley. Kristin, bumpers firmly off-limits thanks to Jackson, rolled more than a few gutter balls, but the laughter between them never stopped. Later that night, Jackson introduced to a group of Jackson’s closest high school friends, who happen to be in town for a birthday. This was an unplanned surprise she happily accepted, and found herself to fit right in. They passed with flying colors, only confirming what she already suspected: this was someone truly worth keeping around. As the months went on, their relationship deepened. When Kristin met Jackson’s mother, Lisa, she immediately noticed how Lisa’s warmth and charisma reminded her of her own mom, Lori. On that same visit, after a College World Series game, the three of them spent the evening together, and later that night, Jackson and Kristin sat in the backyard looking up at the stars. That’s when Jackson first told Kristin he loved her. From then on, their love only grew stronger as they built memories together fishing, camping, running, and cooking. Each adventure, they drew closer together, weaving a life full of laughter, comfort, and joy. In Iowa City, Kristin introduced Jackson to Veritas, a Christian church, where they joined a weekly bible study group and found a faith family that continues to shape and strengthen their relationship. Then came March 13th, 2025. On a family vacation in Kauai, Jackson surprised Kristin with an engagement disguised as a thoughtful gift: he had arranged for a professional photographer to capture family photos on Hanalei Bay. After a round of smiles and snapshots with her family, Jackson turned to Kristin on the sand, dropped to one knee, and asked her to spend forever with him. With the ocean waves rolling in and her family looking on, Kristin said yes, and the photographer captured every breathtaking moment. It was the perfect beginning to the next chapter of their story.