Three years ago I got the news that I was to move to California after graduating from residency in Ohio. Excited about getting out of the snowy Midwest, I reconnected with a college friend Angela. She lived in the area and was constantly filling her weekends with hikes in Tahoe, wine tastings in Napa and various adventures with her husband and new puppy. We made plans for hanging out that summer and she jokingly told me "you will really love our roommate ;)". I mistakenly thought she was referring to her new adorable puppy Hank. Little did I know she was actually talking about the human roommate Nick! Her match making schemes came to fruition when we all met up for the first time that August. After a couple of group outings, Nick asked me on a first date. When I showed up to their house for the date, our friends were all hanging out in the kitchen opening a bottle of wine and winding down from the week. So naturally, our first date was crashed by several of our closest friends. We all made our way down to the local Irish pub laughing about having several chaperones for our courtship. When the guys went to the bar to grab drinks, Angela turned to me in her most serious expression and asked "So what are your intentions with my Nick?". And thus started our dating adventure. Luckily our subsequent dates were not so crowded. If anyone was stealing my attention away from Nick, it was his dog Auggie! The three of us spent over a year adventuring and growing close. The addition of puppy Rooney to our little family brought even more love. The slow and steady progression from awkward acquaintances to good friends to loves has made us inseparable. Nick (and the pups) have been a blessing and a constant in my life. When he asked me to be his wife on top of a mountain in Japan it was an easy YES! We are both so excited to celebrate with all of you in Italy and for the bright future ahead :)