Our story began in 1980 at 1011 16th St, Boulder, Colorado, when Jill Kleppe and Kim Krantz first met at the Zeta chapter of Chi Omega. Little did they know that 45 years later, their kids would be getting married to each other.

We first met as little kids, but the first time we remember meeting each other was in March of 2015, at Bart and Yeti’s in Vail, Colorado. However, it wasn’t until Jack slid into Jacqueline’s Facebook DMs in 2016 that we became friends. Thanks to the McClellands’ annual ski trip, we got to meet up again at Pasta Jay’s. We exchanged a total of five words with each other but decided we needed to see each other again. The Kamlets happened to have a wedding in DC that spring, which meant that we got to see each other just two months later. We spent a day at Jack’s Aunt Jane’s farm. After a day of horseback riding, Jack dropped Jacqueline off at her hotel and stole a kiss, which was, of course, documented by the Kamlet sisters. Jack texted Jacqueline that night (May 27th, 2016) to ask her to be his girlfriend. Jack played tourist with the Kamlets on the last day of their trip, and then the long distance began.

We spent that summer FaceTiming and texting, and by that point, we were best friends. Jacqueline returned to Maryland for a week that summer to hang out with Jack. We baked cookies, hung out with Jack’s brother, Jay, went to the aquarium, and explored Bethesda. We left on uncertain terms and both started high school again that fall. Of course, our parents knew that trying to do long-distance (1,500 miles) in high school would inevitably fail, so they told us that we needed to stay friends no matter what and not ruin the family friendship. A week into Jack’s school year, he decided senior year and a girlfriend in Colorado did not mix well, causing Jacqueline’s first real heartbreak. Being Jack’s friend was the furthest thing from her mind.

About a month later, we were back to texting each other and repaired the friendship. We talked about how easily we clicked and understood each other and agreed that being friends wouldn’t be so hard. Over the next seven years, we were by each other’s sides through relationships, breakups, graduations, the deaths of our closest family members, birthdays, and everything in between. We still met up yearly during the McClellands’ ski trip, and Jacqueline spent the fall break of her senior year with Jill and Jack.

It all changed on March 24, 2023, at Jacqueline’s sister Jenna’s wedding. Jack asked Jacqueline to dance to Morgan Wallen’s “Cover Me Up,” when he told her that he was ready to be “all in.” Jacqueline had been waiting for this day since she received the Facebook DM; it just took a little while for Jack to catch up.

We have spent the last year and a half flying back and forth to DC and Nebraska, getting to know each other again, spending time with family and friends, and most importantly, growing in our faith in Jesus together.

On March 16, 2024, on Jacqueline’s birthday, Jack got down on one knee in Vail and asked Jacqueline to marry him, a day she had dreamt of since she was 16. We celebrated by eating dinner back where it all began… Bart and Yeti’s. We were so thrilled to put eight years of long-distance behind us when Jacqueline joined Jack on the East Coast in August. We are soaking in all of the sweetness that comes with engagement. We cannot wait to celebrate with our family and friends in March. You have shaped us into who we are, and making a commitment to each other in front of God and our loved ones means the world to us.

We know that this story could not have been written by anyone but our Maker. The one who guided Jill to pick CU Boulder from 1,500 miles away, who brought our moms together as friends, who knit us in our mothers’ wombs, and who brought us together in the perfect circumstances. Our God, who loves to give good gifts to those who love Him, has blessed us immensely. Our prayer is that He would use us to point to Him, to share the good news of the Gospel, to open our home as a safe haven to those who need it, and to bless the people we meet along the adventure of life.

J&J