The Meeting: We met in line at a gyro food truck downtown Denver on June 7th, 2018. Jay had just moved back to Colorado & I had been there for almost one year. We hit it off right away & when he asked for my number, I made sure he saved my full name. He texted me the next day & we were off to our first date pretty quickly after that. The First Date: When Jay asked me out, I was a bit hesitant about meeting at a random address in Lakewood. Naturally, I did what anyone would do—I looked it up on Google Maps and was surprised to see an image of a house. My skepticism kicked in, but as it turned out, it was his mom’s house where he was staying while waiting to close on his new home. Despite my initial nerves, the night turned out to be unforgettable. We had an incredible Italian dinner, and afterwards we headed to Dave & Buster’s, where our competitive sides took center stage. I dominated basketball, while Jay claimed victory in air hockey. By our second date, I found myself helping him organize the kitchen in his brand-new home, reassuring me that he had, in fact, been telling the truth about the closing date. From there, we spent the summer together, making memories, and by late July, we officially became a couple. Life in the Middle: I was teaching, getting a Master's degree & living in an apartment of my own. Jay was working, getting a Bachelor's Degree & a dual Master's Degree. We eventually made the move to live together in May, 2022. We attended many Colorado Avalanche games, completed escape rooms, and had lots of movie nights. We also took trips to a handful of Colorado mountain towns (Keystone being our favorite), Santa Fe, Phoenix, Mexico, and Iowa. The Engagement: I was certain a proposal would come the summer we moved back to Iowa. I had one non-negotiable request—the ring had to come from Keleher’s Jewelry (obviously), so I assumed Jay would wait until we were living there to work out the details. But in March, he completely shocked me by getting down on one knee at the top of a hike in South Africa. I was so overwhelmed that I momentarily blacked out from pure shock and even blurted out, “You want to marry me?” just to make sure I wasn’t dreaming. The rest of the day was pure bliss—brunch, beach time, and a breathtaking sunset from our Airbnb patio, soaking in the moment together. The Move to the Midwest: We closed on our house at the end of January & were anxious to get here. We really did it all in one weekend; Jay graduated with his MBA, we had a graduation/moving/engagement party & then packed up a 26 foot moving truck to hit the road. We couldn't have done the move without my parents and Tom & Teri. They might not have known what they were getting themselves into, but we will always appreciate them immensely! And now, here we are. Jay spearheaded getting our basement finished as I took on wedding planning. Chloe has been along for the ride with us for 6 years & is loving her new, big backyard. She's met lots of new doggos & has been on many trips to the lake, but isn't so sure about the water yet. Next Step: Let's get married!