Austin was starting his second year of the Farm Power program at Mitchell Technical Institute while I was starting my first year in the Radiologic Sciences program. A friend asked me if I wanted to go to a house party. After walking down the stairs to the basement I found Austin sitting at the end of the table and I remember our eyes locking. I definitely remember getting butterflies at that moment. Throughout the school year, there was a large group of us that always hung out together. Once the year came to an end, we all felt like family. The majority of the group graduated but I was off to Watertown, SD to complete my clinicals. Austin was living in Platte at the time and he had asked me to come see him one weekend. Eventually, it turned into coming to see him almost every weekend and the rest was history!

This is one of my favorite stories to tell! Traveling to the hills is one of our favorite things to do together! Austin and I had planned a trip to the hills with some friends over New Years! We found out there was a ball drop in front of one of the hotels in downtown Deadwood. Earlier in the night, I asked Austin, "Are you going to propose to me tonight?" To which he responded, "No, why?" All I could say was, "Oh, okay! I was just wondering." Midnight was approaching so we went outside to watch the ball drop. We were standing right next to an ice skating rink and right in front of the ball where the countdown was on. Once midnight hit, beaded necklaces were being thrown, confetti was falling and I turned to Austin to give him a New Years kiss (to which he completely denied me). He dropped to one knee and asked me to marry him! I was in complete shock and had no idea it was coming, especially after asking him if it was coming! It was a great way to start off 2021 and we are even more excited to end the year with our friends and family!

The ceremony will be taking place at St. Ann's Catholic Church 303 5th Street, Geddes, SD 57342. The reception will follow at the Platte Community Building 310 Main Street, Platte, SD 57369. A bus will be available for our guests to ride following the ceremony and extending until the reception and dance have concluded.