Jerad and I both started working at the Planet Group of Companies in the spring of 2015. By the time I started, many of our coworkers, Jerad included, were already a part of a softball team. My first week, the team was short a girl and I was recruited to fill the spot. Jerad and I didn't talk outside of casual group conversations for a couple weeks. One week in late July, the game was canceled due to rain, but the team still decided to meet at the bar for drinks. It was a smaller group and Jerad was sitting across from me at the table. We talked all night about who knows what, but next thing you know, we are joking about getting married. As we were getting ready to leave, he used the line, "I can't leave without my future wife's phone number." We started to talk a lot, which eventually led to our first date. I was unsure about him, but he was very persistent and for some reason, I couldn't stay away - I was even the first to say, "I love you." Three years later, we will be husband and wife.

On February 18th, 2017, Jerad got down on one knee and asked me to marry him overlooking the beautiful city of Chicago. To say I was surprised is an understatement! It was an unusually warm day for February, in the upper 60's, and we took the train into the city with a couple friends. We barely made it to the train in time and Jerad was acting really flustered. All of sudden, our friend Kane says, "Jerad, do you have your coat?" He freaks out and runs back to the car to get his jacket, which I was a little confused about considering it was a beautiful day. But, he made it back just in time to board the train. I had brought along my winter jacket as well for later that night as it got colder, but I was sick of carrying it. I wanted to put it in the sleeve of Jerad's coat and when I asked him if I could, he pulled it away from me and was like, "No, I'll carry it." I didn't think much of it and gave him my coat anyways. We walked lakeside to the Shedd Aquarium and it led us to the beautiful overhang that looks out to the city skyline. Our friends wanted to take pictures there, so I took their pictures then decided Jerad and I needed one too. But little did I know, this was ALL a part of the plan. This is a popular spot, so I'm telling Jerad to hurry up because there are people waiting and he bends down to put his coat on the ground. I am joking to my friends and waving to the camera when the next thing I know he is on one knee. The only phrases that I could muster up were "SHUT UP!" and of course, "Yes!" But, the surprise did not end there. We headed to Cindy's Rooftop for celebratory drinks. When we got there, Jerad had all of our local friends and family there to help us celebrate. The next day, everything clicked on his "odd" behavior, but it was definitely the best day of our lives thus far.