Despite being more than 600 miles away from each other, Jason and Kelly still managed to meet in April of 2024, on a Catholic dating app called 'Gather,' which was taken off of the app store (citing 'financial difficulties') on May 1st of the same year. Two phone calls and a handful of text messages later, we agreed on a first date after Kelly moved from Atchison, Kansas, to Littleton, Colorado in mid-May.

One date led to another, and soon enough they were spending every free afternoon and evening (and sometimes morning) together, when we weren't apart for family trips to Canada, weddings of college friends, and the funeral of Kelly's beloved grandfather. In early August, Jason joined Kelly as her 'plus one' at a friend's wedding in Wisconsin, and despite having to spend twelve hours together in the Milwaukee airport waiting on a Frontier airlines flight, they continued going on more dates and spending more time together as the summer turned to fall.

Later in the fall, they planned a road trip down to their respective hometowns for Thanksgiving, hitting Pflugerville, Katy, League City, and Granbury on the great Texas adventure. On this trip, they met each other's parents and shared stories about where and how they had grown up, as well as how far they had come.

In December, Jason joined Kelly in League City after Christmas, meeting the last of the family and taking the opportunity to ask Kelly's parents for their blessing. After swinging by Pflugerville for New Years, they returned to Littleton, and a week or two later went ring shopping together to get Kelly's ring size and a sense of what she liked. Jason later visited a local jeweler who offered custom rings, and designed a one-of-a-kind engagement ring.

Finally, after two weeks of sitting on the ring (and two days of skiing with Jason's family), they hiked up South Table Mountain in Golden, Colorado, and Jason got down on one knee (with Milo's leash in hand, of course!)

Now, we are engaged and looking forward to our wedding in November! We are so excited to celebrate with all of you and keep our story turning as we set out on the adventure of married life together. We're relying on your prayers and support as we pursue the vocation God has called us to. Neither of us could have gotten to where we are today without wonderful people to help guide and support us, and we're looking forward to many more years of wonderful people!