It was a long college career, through COVID and losing my dad. JD knew how hard I worked on my college degree, and how stressful it was for me. The late nights of taking online tests, to making him bring my laptop to work, so I could study. He supported me through everything. A year before JD asked me for ideas on how to propose and I said "I don't know, my graduation party." Then it was really never talked about again. I am not a very cheesy person, so I did not have any good ideas to give him. He did know how important it was for him to ask my cousin, Cory, for my hand in marriage. This was important to me because my Dad would have made him do the same thing. There were a few instances leading up to the proposal where JD's daughter, Mariah, kept saying to me, "My daddy's gonna buy you a ring." I just kind of ignored it. He buys to many tools to buy me a ring. Then my actual graduation day at UW-Whitewater we had immediate family over for seafood and steak dinner. We were sitting in the kitchen when my mom gave me a gift bag with a jewelry box in it. As soon as, I opened it, Abel grabbed the box he ran to the kitchen got down on one knee and said, "JD DO IT. DO IT. JD JUST DO IT," as he flipped the box open and close. My mother got me a beautiful birth stone ring, and Abel had other ideas for it. Well next thing you know, its graduation party day. JD was acting weird all day. I did not put two and two together, I just yelled at him to help in the kitchen or do something. My mom's entire side of the family was there, so we like to take pictures with my grandparents with each family. Next thing you know all of our close friends were even out there like a whole paparazzi. We are like four pictures in when JD yelled something, like "hold up" in his deep JD voice because he had to act all serious. Honestly, at first I thought it was a joke. Then I looked at him and immediately started bawling. I really did not think he would do it in front of my family and friends. I wouldn't want it any other way! Now here we are with a ring on my finger and wedding planning. We're so excited to celebrate this next chapter in our lives with you.