We met through a mutual friend one summer evening at IHOP — not exactly the most romantic setting, but it turned out to be the start of something special. From that night on, we instantly clicked. We spent that summer before college talking for hours on the phone, laughing about everything and nothing. By the time we both started at UW-Whitewater in the fall, it felt like we had already known each other forever. What began as an easy friendship quickly became a connection that just kept growing, and the rest, as they say, is history.

We spent countless hours hanging out in the dorms, watching movies, and talking about absolutely nothing for way too long — the kind of easy friendship that just made sense. Sophomore year brought some distance as life got busier, but we always stayed in touch. Somehow, fate still had jokes, because Ricky ended up becoming Adah’s RA (we’re still laughing about that). By junior year, that friendship started to shift into something deeper. What began as late-night conversations and inside jokes slowly grew into love built on years of laughter, comfort, and trust.

By the second semester of junior year, things between us started to shift in the best way. We began spending more intentional time together — the kind that made it clear we wanted to see where this could go. Ever since freshman year, people joked that we’d end up together, but it wasn’t until then that we started to believe it ourselves. What started as an easy friendship turned into something real, steady, and full of love. After graduation, Adah moved into the place where Ricky was staying, and we got our first real taste of living together. Then, once Ricky completed his master’s program, we made our way back to Milwaukee and moved into our very first place together — a space that truly felt like ours.

Our time at our Tuckaway apartment will always hold a special place in our hearts. It’s where we really grew together and created some of our best memories. Our friends can definitely attest to that — they got to watch our love blossom firsthand. Those years were full of milestones and blessings. Adah finished her master’s program and started her first job post-grad, while Ricky continued thriving at PwC, earning several promotions and recognition from WICPA. We laughed a lot, celebrated wins, supported each other through challenges, and built the kind of partnership we had always envisioned. Tuckaway was also where we began our family, welcoming our son, Tre, in 2023 — the greatest chapter of all. Later that year, we took another big step and moved into our first home together, closing one beautiful chapter and opening an even bigger one. 🤍

From 2023 to now, life has been filled with more blessings, laughter, and love than we could’ve imagined. We’ve continued building memories with family and friends, celebrating milestones that have shaped the story of “us.” In the winter of 2024, Ricky proposed during one of the most unforgettable moments of our lives, and in August 2025, we celebrated our Kwanjula surrounded by our loved ones — a day that beautifully honored our traditions and our journey together. This chapter also brought the arrival of our second son, RyLee, adding even more joy (and just the right amount of chaos) to our lives. As we move closer to our wedding, we’re excited for all the new memories ahead — raising our boys, growing together, and continuing to build our story, one day at a time.