Jack and I have actually known each other our whole lives! Our moms grew up together and have been best friends since childhood, so we have known each other since we were babies. We grew up seeing each other at playdates, birthday parties, the pool, going to haunted houses, and we even went to basketball camps together. We did not see each other as much in high school since we went to different schools, but we almost always saw each other on New Year's Eve since our families celebrate together at my parents' house. The first couple years of college I always had to go back to Los Angeles right after Christmas for winter training for swimming, so I wasn't in Omaha for New Year's Eve for a while. However, my junior year of college I decided to end my swimming career and was back in town for New Year's Eve for the first time in years, and that is the night Jack and I reconnected!

I had always been intrigued by Jack, felt drawn to him, and loved him from afar, but we had never really talked before that New Year's Eve. I immediately fell in love with Jack that night and could not stop thinking about him. He is the most genuine, kind-hearted, and thoughtful man I have ever met, and I just knew he is the one for me. My mom always talks about the moment we walked back in after being out at the bars that night. Jack was carrying me, I was wearing his sweatshirt, and I had the biggest smile on my face :) That summer, Jack and I started hanging out, and we have been together ever since!

We had to do long distance my senior year of college, but we moved in together once I came back to Omaha and started law school. I am so grateful to have Jack in my life -- he believes in me even when I don't, and he has been with me through all the highest of highs and lowest of lows. Jack is my comfort and my protection, and he truly makes me a better person.

We have always known we wanted to get married and have kids one day, so the thought of getting engaged has always been exciting for us! Jack completely surprised me with the proposal and the ring, which was exactly what I wanted. We got engaged Friday, November 15, 2024. We were just hanging out at our apartment with Roxy (my standard poodle), getting ready to go out to dinner, listening to music, having some drinks, and talking in the kitchen when he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him! It was one of the happiest moments of my life, and it was exactly what I wanted for a proposal. The intimacy of the proposal and how Jack chose to propose with just us two in our apartment shows how he knows me so well, and it made me even more sure that he is the one for me. My favorite nights are when it is just us two getting ready to go out to dinner, listening to music, talking, laughing, and having some drinks, and I can't wait to keep doing that for the rest of our lives.

Jack and I are beyond excited to get married and start a family. The longer I am with Jack, the harder I fall in love with him. We are so excited for our future together!

We cannot wait to celebrate with our closest family and friends! We love you all!