The first time I remember meeting Mitchell was during my sophomore year of college at Iowa State. I had just finished shopping with my mom all day, and she had bought some things for my brother Henry that she needed me to drop off to him. Conveniently, we lived in the same apartment complex, just a parking lot apart from each other. I walked over to drop off his clothes, and it just so happened that Mitchell was visiting his college friend Ben, who was my brother's roommate. I dropped off the clothes and hung out there for a bit before returning to my apartment to get ready to go out that night with my roommates. I remember telling my roommates as soon as I got back that we should go out with my brother and his friends that night because there was a VERY cute guy visiting them (Mitchell). So we did just that, meeting them at the bar they were at and bar-hopping on Welch Ave that evening. I talked to Mitchell all night while trying to not make it obvious to my brother and Ben that I liked their friend. One thing led to another, and I managed to convince Mitchell to come back to Ames to visit me six weekends before I eventually went to the Quad Cities to see him. We started dating over Memorial Day weekend that year, and I have loved every day with Mitchell since. Thank you Ben for inviting Mitchell to visit that weekend!!

We bought our house in April 2023, and I graduated from college early in December 2023. Since then, we have expanded our family with our corgi puppy, Frank. We have met so many new and great friends in the QC, and I wouldn’t want to start my life with anyone else. I love you, Mitchell!

It started in the summer of 2021. At my friend Ben Hereen’s house during one of his famous shop parties. There was a pretty red headed girl that caught my eye that night. I left that weekend never knowing her name or even speaking to her. Fast forward, to a weekend in February of 2022. I was once again, driving to Ames to visit Ben and go out to the bars. The roomate of Ben happened to be that same pretty red headed girls brother, Henry. That meant she’d be going to the bar with us. That night, I put a name to that red hair and her name was Grace. Believe it or not, that night SHE added ME on Snapchat. Crazy. Anyway, after a night at the bars food is always a good idea. Her and I had our first “date” at Jeff’s. A pizza joint down the street. I bought her a couple slices of pizza and that’s where it all started. I would still visit “Ben” in Ames the next couple months. Him and I both knew the real reason I was visiting. Grace and I went on a few more dates and she would visit me in the Quad Cities. In May of 2022 we began dating. For about 1.5 years we dated long distance while she was finishing college. It was hard at times, but for the right person it makes it all worth it. I cannot thank her enough for those 1.5 years.

Now, I get to marry that pretty no named red headed girl that caught my eye in 2021. Thank you Grace, for everything you have done for me. To the memories we’ve made and to making a lifetime worth of new ones with you. I’m excited for this next adventure. There is nobody else in life I’d rather have by my side.

I will always love you more than anything Grace!