As the new student at Saint Mary’s Hall, Nick was ready to enjoy his senior year playing baseball. During a beginning-of-the-year gathering, Nick and Margaret met for the first time through mutual friends who were dating each other at the time. This conveniently turned into casual double dates where Nick and Margaret got to know each other better and ultimately formed an undeniable bond. Finally, at the end of one of these double dates, Nick officially asked Margaret on a proper date. They stopped at Chick-fil-A (Margaret’s favorite) and then hiked a trail at Eisenhower Park during sunset. And of course, the date concluded with ice cream from Baskin-Robbins. Just four days later, Nick couldn’t contain his excitement and planned a lunch date in the middle of the school week so he could ask her to be his girlfriend. September 23rd, 2020, marks that memorable moment. About eight months later, Margaret had been diagnosed with a chronic medical condition without a cure, though there were treatments. Unsure of how Nick would react, she feared it might push him away. After Margaret called to tell Nick, he immediately began learning everything he could, determined to walk beside her no matter what the future might hold. At the time, Margaret was in Colorado with some friends and her parents. When they returned home, Nick was waiting patiently on the bed of his truck with a bouquet of flowers. From this point on, they both knew they would be inseparable. As graduation passed, life led them to different colleges. Margaret headed to Lubbock to attend Texas Tech University, and Nick moved five hours east of her to attend University of Dallas. Nick thought he wanted to play baseball in college, but soon realized that balancing baseball, a biology major, a social life, and visiting his girlfriend was too much. After his first semester at the University of Dallas, he decided to shift his focus from baseball to pursuing medical school, eventually transferring to Texas Tech University.They continued their journey together in Lubbock, coming home for the holidays to visit their families. In December of 2024, Nick went to the hunting blind with Margaret’s dad to ask for her hand in marriage. Her dad, of course, said yes. Shortly after their trip to Leakey, Nick went to Kelly Wade to start designing Margaret’s ring. Once the sketch was made and approved, the team began creating Margaret’s perfect ring. When spring break arrived, Margaret was excited to have a couple of days off from nursing school. She decided to head down to Leakey with her mom and a friend to do some shopping before meeting Nick and her dad at the house. Margaret had no idea what was about to happen. But a note from Nick changed everything. Her dad met her on the porch, drove her part of the way down the path, and told her, “This is where your journey begins.” As Margaret walked down the trail, she found Nick waiting for her at the entrance of “Rocky Beach,” surrounded by flowers, candles, and a photographer ready to capture the moment. There, under the blue skies of the Texas Hill Country along the Frio River, Nick dropped to one knee and asked Margaret to be his forever. The photographer captured the moment beautifully, and they soon walked hand in hand up the path to celebrate with their families. Now, Margaret is working in the NICU, caring for the tiniest of patients, while Nick is completing his first year of medical school at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. On July 11th, 2026, they’ll finally say “I do” and begin the next chapter of their adventure together. Nick and Margaret feel so lucky to have such incredible family and friends cheering them on, and they cannot wait to laugh, dance, and celebrate their big day with everyone they love most.