Our story began in high school, where we first crossed paths as co-captains of the rowing team. During spring of our senior year, we both made it all the way to the youth national championships in Florida. On the drive back to the airport, Tierney pretended to fall asleep on Jacob's shoulder; the first move that sparked it all. We spent that summer before college getting to know each other. We met each other's friends, spent time with our respective families, and enjoyed a perfect few months. By the time fall rolled around, we both knew that what was supposed to be a 'summer fling' was worth holding onto, even as we headed off to different colleges. With Tierney going to the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and Jacob at UMich in Ann Arbor, the next chapter of our story was shaped by long distance. We spent hours upon hours talking on FaceTime and cherished every break, holiday, and summer spent together in Madison. Fortunately, plane tickets between Minneapolis and Detroit were often well within the budget of a college student, so we both enjoyed several visits to each other's schools. Through frequent calls, careful travel planning, and a couple of unusually long stints at home due to Covid, we made it through long distance unscathed. After college graduation, we were finally geographically together when we moved to Chicago together to start our first jobs. Tierney as a neonatal ICU nurse in a children's hospital and Jacob as an analyst at United Airlines. The city quickly became home, offering new adventures, favorite spots, jumping pad for fun trips, and a place where we could grow both individually and as a couple. From exploring neighborhoods and trying new restaurants to building a broad coalition of friends and connections, Chicago has been the backdrop to so many meaningful moments. Jacob proposed on June 20th, 2025 along the lakefront trail in Chicago. Tierney said "Yes!", and here we are!