Jasen and I met in Omaha, Nebraska in June of 2018. It was the weekend of the College World Series and I had just moved to Omaha. Jasen had moved to Lincoln a few months before, so we were both pretty new to the area. The next week, Jasen took me on our first date to the ever so romantic, Texas Roadhouse. Although he was charming, I can't say we were both sold on the first date. In the beginning months, we were both pretty uncertain of what would become of it. We talked occasionally, but it wasn't until the end of October when Jasen got our dog, Koba, that I started coming around a little more. I was the official dog-sitter. I fell in love with Koba immediately, and together, Jasen and I became a pretty good team of dog parents. I was in awe of Jasen. I couldn't believe that a man with tattoo's and a love of metal music could be so patient, kind, and selfless. He treated me with every bit of love and respect as he did Koba and always put us first. I think it was somewhere between our long walks and arguing over who would pick up Koba's poop that we fell in love. We took our first vacation together to Colorado in March, and in the long hours of driving we decided from that moment on, it would just be Sydney, Jasen, and Koba. We've been trapped in our own little love bubble since.

November 17, 2019. It was a Sunday morning in the heat of football season. I'd been begging for some quality time that didn't involve watching football, so we had planned on going to brunch. I got a latte with a heart in it and Jasen got biscuts and gravy. After breakfast, we picked up Koba and went to the dog park. Its our weekend ritual, and we have had some of our best conversations, biggest belly laughs, and sweetest times watching Koba play over the past year. We are always very intentional about making our time at the dog park good, relaxed, quality time. I steal kisses between each time Jasen throws the ball for Koba, and we admire the area with a little lake, tons of big trees and walking trails. It’s our happy place. As we were walking around, we were talking about how much the place means to us and how it really has become "our special place." We stopped under our favorite tree to take it all in, and as our hug ended, I felt Jasen wiggle down to the ground, get down on his knee, and speak the sweetest words. Even though I had known for months that this was coming, nothing could prepare me for the moment. I don't think I could say "yes" fast enough. In his hands was his great-grandmothers diamond ring. I could see it sparkle even through tear filled eyes. It truly was the best moment of my life.