Mike and I met our junior year at UNC -- although it was at the PKA house, it wasn't a frat party! Instead, it was Max Kraybill's birthday party (shoutout Max). After meeting and catching a win at the ~ping pong table~ and hours of endless effortless conversation on the porch, by the end of the evening Mike decided he was going to cancel on his upcoming cocktail date and invite me instead.. lol! Our first picture together two days later... at his "fifth & cuff" party (sorry mom & dad!)

"We're going to the 'ship!" Franklin Street celebrations! UNC wins Final Four game to make it to the National Championship.. a loss that would then set us up for a later redemption!

Junior year formal in OBX

Senior year ADPi Mallard Ball

Ringing in the New Year together in Wrightsville Beach!

REDEMPTION!! UNC defeats Gonzaga 71-65 (with minimally clear photos surviving the storm on Franklin Street).

The end of the college love story -- but the start of our lives in the real word! While Mike was wrapping up his last semester, I began working as a Medical Assistant at a dermatology office in Chapel Hill in order to eventually apply to PA school. We were SO happy that we would continue living in the same city!

Attending our first Messina beach vacation together at Oak Island -- things are getting serious!

Before going long distance with me starting PA school at ECU in the fall, we decided that we needed to go the distance -- in the form of a trip to Europe! Without any prior travel experience beyond the States, Mike and I jetted off in a red eye flight to Spain (Madrid --> Barcelona) and Italy (Sorrento --> Rome).

Mike lived in Durham working at Avalara while I lived in Greenville studying away in PA school! Despite this couple hours' drive distance, we managed to see each other frequently -- the distance almost making us more appreciative of the short moments we had together :')

Ringing in yet another New Year! Except this year would soon prove to be unlike any before...

For my PA school Spring Break, four couples + Garrett planned a trip to Puerto Rico! A few weeks prior, there was talk about some virus halfway around the world.. The night before our flight, this virus was declared a pandemic! Being naive to the full extent of this rapidly developing situation, we proceeded on to our trip -- later grateful we did, as it would be the last opportunity to travel for the foreseeable future. (We're not going to discuss the territory of PR shutting down after Mike, Garrett, and I decided to cancel our flights home and extend our vacation..lol!)

Although COVID had such a huge, negative impact on the world, we were so grateful for the opportunity to spend more time together as PA school went largely virtual. We mastered at-home workouts, work-from-home setups, and "throupling."

A 26th birthday trip outside of Asheville

And a 27th birthday at Mike's apartment on the 17th floor in Uptown Charlotte

PA school graduation and on to the next leg of life! With the ability to work from home, Mike moved to Charlotte earlier in the year and ended up switching jobs to an in-person role there. Meanwhile I accepted my first job as a Physician Assistant working back at the same dermatology office that I worked at previously in Chapel Hill. This also meant prolonging our long distance.. Mike would soon accept a new role for a remote position which would allow him to move back to Chapel Hill so that we could be together.

Atop the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Charlotte after having (what I believed to be Mike's birthday celebration) dinner at La Belle Helene... She said YES!!!! And was in utter disbelief walking into a surprise engagement party with 60+ friends and family there to celebrate us. Best day of our lives thus far!

The year of WEDDINGS! So blessed to have so many good friends who are so in love -- we attended EIGHT weddings this year!

It's a GIRL! We brought Ellie, a Bernese Mountain Dog, home at 7 weeks old and already weighing in at 15 lbs.

After a long almost month of parenthood, we left Ellie in the hands of trusty Sam to ski off to Vail, CO! Mike impressively shredded the Rockies, while I tried my absolute best at a first ever attempt on skis.

And suddenly, here we find ourselves, 365 days away from our big day. We have so loved this crazy, busy, unexpected, exciting life we've built together and cannot wait to continue building the rest. At last!!!