In the fall of 2015, I was a freshman in high school, and Jesse was a junior. At an optional pep band game to kick off the school year early, Jesse and I just so happened to sit next to each other. Jesse, playing alto saxophone, and I playing clarinet, began to discuss music together. This will grow to be the common thread that keeps us connected through our relationship. Always eating candy, I offered Jesse an Air Head extreme just to start a conversation. Within a few days of sharing the candy, Jesse and I had exchanged numbers and began texting. Towards the end of September, Jordan High School had its homecoming dance, which was a girl ask guy occasion. Having really enjoyed getting to know Jesse, I asked him to be my date. He officially asked me out as boyfriend and girlfriend at the end of the night, as we danced to Piano Man by Billy Joel.

In the fall of 2016, Jesse and I celebrated our first anniversary together, and Jesse began his senior year of high school! He began touring colleges and thinking about life beyond the walls of our high school. Together, we participated in school musicals and anything music-related. We continued going to pep band games and getting Air Head extremes to share. Jesse also started taking piano lessons from my teacher, Penny! We learned our first duet, which was one of the most fun things we've ever done together!

In the spring of 2017, we went to our first prom together, and Jesse graduated from high school! We celebrated a really fun school year, knowing Jesse was off to the University of St. Thomas in the fall, with me still in high school. Regardless, we enjoyed our time through speech, theatre, and all band events we could fit into our schedule. We had a great summer, including vacations to my cabin in Osakis and a fabulous camping trip to the Boundary Waters with Jesse's family. The summer ended way too soon when Jesse had to leave for college, and we began the first year of long distance.

In the spring of 2018, Jesse returned to high school for my Junior year prom. Our first year of long distance was coming to a close as Jesse finished his finals at St. Thomas. He was moving home for the summer! Jesse and I (mostly Jesse) traveled almost every other weekend to see each other throughout the school year. To keep us connected, we went to each other's band concerts, and Jesse came to see my plays, piano, and choir concerts. While he was far away, he always managed to come home to my events! We had another great summer with tons of trips to the cabin, and I began preparing for my senior year of high school!

In the spring of 2019, Jesse returned to high school again for my senior and final prom! We celebrated my high school graduation and my decision of St. Catherine University for college, which is conveniently only one mile from St Thomas. We ended our last year of long distance and were so ready to live close enough to see each other whenever we wanted! We continued to attend each other's band concerts and all events we could to support each other.

In the spring of 2020, we enjoyed being in college together. Even though we were on separate campuses, we were finally able to see each other almost every day. One of the best parts of college was our ability to take band together, regardless of me being at a different school! When Covid hit, I moved back in with my parents after only being at school for one semester, and Jesse stayed up at college since he lived off campus. Our close living proximity was very short-lived! After the summer of 2020, we knew we were done living apart and decided that the following spring, we would move in together!

In the spring of 2021, surprise! We moved in together! As Jesse was graduating from college and moving out of his house with his buddies, we decided to make the leap and rent our first apartment together. We loved shopping for furniture and cooking in our new apartment! Another great bonus was living in the same complex as our friends, which makes get-togethers just a building away! Jesse began working full-time as a mechanical design engineer while I continued my studies to become a nurse. Together, we began to navigate this new adventure of living together!

In the summer of 2022, Jesse popped the big question in the most amazing way possible. We were at my family cabin in Osakis when out on our friend's pontoon, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him! Of course, I said yes! For being a control freak, I cannot believe I didn't see this one coming! Jesse managed to scheme this whole proposal, including getting his family up to my cabin, without me knowing! It led to a great weekend with lots of champagne and celebrating the future Mr and Mrs!