Don't mind if I do.

Carter & I met in August of 2022 while I was living in Smurthwaite Scholarship & Leadership House and he was living in Smith Scholarship House at K-State. I had begun my sophomore year there and he had just started at a freshman. Throughout this first semester of the school year, we hung out at game nights between the houses, swing danced together at St. Isidor's every week, and participated in a few group events hosted by the houses. In the spring of 2023, Carter asked me on a date on Valentine's Day! Much to Carter's annoyance (rightfully so), I asked if we could choose a different day due to previous commitments, so we settled on the week before this holiday. On the day of the date, I was remarkably not nervous at all & excited to go on our date. Carter's original plan for this date ended up falling through about 30 minutes before the date, thus began the first of many signs that Carter was perfect for me. Despite his original plan not working out, he quickly came up with an alternative without any input from me! We went to the old, abandoned & prohibited greenhouse at the K-State Gardens (it has since been torn down). There, we sat on a blanket and watched a movie and hung out for hours. We went on a walk on our second date, where we told each other that we liked each other, and on our third date he cooked Cajun Chicken Pasta for us (it has become my favorite meal) and asked me to be his girlfriend. Before we knew it, we had been dating for over a year and a half. The week of my 22nd birthday (November 18th, 2024), I was antsy. I had a feeling it was coming soon, but I couldn't figure it out, try as I might. The week after my birthday, Thanksgiving week, we were taking a trip to Colorado with his family, so I thought maybe it was going to happen then? Or maybe it would be in Palo Duro Canyon in Texas with my family for Christmas like I had dreamed as a little girl? Or maybe I was just being delusional? Regardless, I was trying to prepare myself. 2 days after my birthday, November 20th, I got my nails done by my dear friend Sadie Piper Hough, hoping that they would be my proposal nails because I loved them so much! Carter and I had planned to go to Olive Garden that evening for my birthday, so after my nail appointment he came over and picked me up. While at Olive Garden, I completely lost my appetite out of nerves and a twisted gut. I was so uncomfortable with my flip-flopping stomach, that I just burst out with the question, "Carter, are we getting engaged tonight?!" He couldn't answer. He looked at me, gulped, took a sip of wine and went back to his Fettuccini Alfredo. I asked again, receiving a similar response. I waited a few minutes, and asked a third time, this time earning the response, "Gosh dang it, woman, let me surprise you!" Sitting back in the booth, I started laughing & smiling uncontrollably, still with no appetite. After dinner, we got in the car and drove to the K-State Gardens, the location of our first date, you'll remember. The whole ride there, I was crying, smiling, laughing, completely speechless and unable to let go of his hand. Once we arrived, he opened my door and took me to the place we sat on our first date. I was laughing and hugging him and crying and just an overall mess of excitement! He got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife and love him for the rest of my life, to which I enthusiastically shouted, "YES!" We are so excited to be married and become one flesh, succeeding, failing and growing as one. We can't wait to see what God has for the rest of our lives, and we are both so thankful that we get to keep growing up together, and eventually grow old together. We are praying Ephesians 4:2-3 together as we prepare for marriage, and invite you to join in praying for us. We hope to see you on May 29th, 2026!