A girl from Tarleton goes to deer capture... A boy from "the other purple school" is also at the deer capture. Girl notices boy, boy notices girl.... Boy does not speak to girl (Don't let Jake tell you otherwise!) ;)

Here's that boy who didn't speak...

With a little bit of help from some friends, we finally got it together and communication started! Jake got my snapchat on a Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society drink ticket ...after a date and lots of phone calls, I eventually decided that long distance wasn't for me ... but that ticket has lived in his wallet to this day!

Passing through Amarillo on his way to visit law schools, Jake texted me... I thought surely he texted the wrong person. Why was the East TX boy wanting to know my lunch plans on a random Friday?

At Texas Chapter that year Jake couldn't stay away from me ;) (or maybe I couldn't stay away from him... who can remember) He also let me know he would be attending law school at Texas Tech... to no surprise our communication picked up A LOT! Notice two crucial characters who've been a part of this story since the beginning!

With Jake at law school in Lubbock, and me at grad school in Amarillo. We finally lived in the same ecoregion! Being the closest we'd ever been, geographically, it was time to give this thing a try! So we met for coffee, that turned into lunch, and obviously you're here reading this...

Our first date in LBK! With MaryKate in town checking out Tech and along for the ride. You'll have to ask her if I passed inspection at that point or not!

The first time Jake took me hunting... Not that he hadn't already made up his mind, but I think my willingness to go hunting with him sealed the deal! ;D

Finally we made the trek from the panhandle to meet the families! That Christmas we took turns visiting each other's homes and got time "bonding" with the family - though Jake's and Dad's looked a bit different!

Then it was my turn meeting his law buddies at the "law prom"! From deer blood and mud to tuxes and gowns- these nerds can do it all!

Jake and I go on our first deer hunt together... obviously Jake was excited! (We both got does later that morning!) Little did I know he had already talked to Dad and had everything planned!

Jake proposed & I said yes!! At my favorite place in the world, Caprock Canyons State Park! (With Joe hiding to take our pictures!)