Like many modern love stories, ours began on Hinge. After a few messages back and forth, Ross cut right to the chase and asked me on a date to The Lowbrow. I will tell you it was breakfast, while Ross insists it was brunch – either way, we sat across from each other sipping coffee and realized pretty quickly that there was something special here. What was supposed to be a quick meal turned into quality conversations about our values, families, and what we were looking for long term. Ross immediately put me at ease. There was something about him that made me feel so comfortable, like I could truly be myself after knowing him for such a short time. The only red flag I left with after that first date was the fear that I would never be able to say or spell Ross’s 13-letter last name. A few weeks later, on my birthday, Ross officially asked me to be his girlfriend. He showed up with a vacuum as a gift – practical and a little risky for a birthday present, but it turned out to be the perfect representation of who he is: thoughtful, helpful, always ready to make life easier, and a clean man. That day, Ross met my family. He fit right in, and my family immediately approved. From there, life moved forward in the best way. We trained for and ran a marathon together in Austin, Texas. We moved in together and blended our little families: Winnie, my dog; Miko, Ross's cat; and lastly, Amanda, my sister. Yes, Ross welcomed Amanda into his home as our honorary third roommate. Since then, we’ve tackled countless house projects, from remodeling parts of our home to smaller DIYs, and spent many quiet evenings playing games, cooking dinners, and taking evening walks with Winnie. We’ve traveled to places near and far – some highlights being Bowen’s Lodge, Hawaii, Austin, and Roatan, Honduras. Those tropical travels sparked a new shared passion: scuba diving, something we both now love and can’t wait to continue doing together. Then came one of the best days of our lives. We got engaged in downtown Stillwater, where Mikayla grew up. Symbolically, Ross proposed on the walking bridge that connects Minnesota and Wisconsin – two places that hold so many memories and meaning for both of us. The moment was intimate, just the two of us, and filled with happy tears, screams, and a few dramatic jumps from me. Afterwards, Ross had planned a surprise engagement party with close family and friends to celebrate. It was the perfect start to our next chapter. Throughout our time and adventures together, we have built a deep friendship as partners – learning each other’s quirks, strengths, and hearts along the way. We can’t wait to officially start our lives together as husband and wife, surrounded by the people we love the most.