Chapter One: The First Look
Once Upon a Time, eight years ago, two unfamiliar faces connected eyes across a room. Mike needed a way to approach this babe and his technique was suave – sweat running down his face and a red solo cup in hand Mike shimmied his way up to Jenna and offered her a drink. Fate continued to work wonders as Jenna and Mike continued to run into one another at Tailgates, 15 cent beer night and of course, Kilroy’s on Kirkwood. Mike knew that Jenna does not turn down coffee so on a crisp January evening Mike asked Jenna on their first date to Starbucks. With hot chocolates in hand, Jenna & Mike talked about everything under the sun. By the time the barista kicked them out for closing, the foundation of an everlasting bond (& Starbucks addiction) had formed, one so strong that it felt like it couldn’t be real.

Chapter Two: College Sweethearts
Cue to a blur of romance – Mike asked Jenna to be his girlfriend at a fraternity formal in Cincinnati on April Fool’s Day 2011. From there the pair was inseparable – formals, tailgates, Scotty’s Waffle Fries, study dates, starbucks runs, ZBT basement parties, Little Five Shenanigans and of course late night marathons of “To Catch a Predator”. New friends were made and old friends were introduced. The college years consisted of dance parties, belly laughs and eating froyo. There were endless nights cooking dinner, watching The Office, playing pranks, allowing Mike to practice his handyman skills (despite flooding our bathroom) and managing to survive all tailgates, no matter how ugly. The pair introduced families, vacationed around the world, gained status on Cruise ships and somehow fit in some time to attend college.

Chapter Three: Distance Makes the Heart Grow Fonder
Summers between college, Jenna and Mike flew back and forth from Chicago to NY to visit one another. NY rooftops, Chicago White Sox Big Screens, Family BBQ’s and premier status for Hyatt Place, the pair found a way to make it work. Mike graduated from Kelley Business School and moved to Chicago to start his career and Jenna took the opportunity to study abroad in Florence. Even with thousands of miles between them, the pair connected daily and put each other first. Mike came to visit Jenna abroad where they explored the Italian Countryside and the beautiful canals of Amsterdam. Mike survived the tiny showers in Florence, endless bottles of wine, visiting every foreign Starbucks they could find and of course making pick pocketers give his stolen phone back. Jenna graduated in May of that year and now the real fun was about to start.

Chapter Four: Adulthood, Here We Come (Dealing with Lactose Intolerance)
On Jenna's 22nd Birthday she made Chicago her new home. Mike and Jenna managed “long distance” from River North to Lakeview. After a year of living apart, Mike knew it was time to give Jenna his closet. Jenna and Mike moved into their first apartment together in 2015 and mastered the obstacles of adulthood side by side. Mike continues to feed Jenna and Jenna continues to folds Mikes sock's. It is a pair that cannot be broken. Two moves and three years later, Mike throws Jenna a surprise proposal and engagement party on January 26th 2018. It was the best day of Jenna’s life.

Chapter Five: The Rest is Still Unwritten
Jenna and Mike are still in a state of shock that they get to MARRY each other next summer. Through the ups and downs, laughter and crying, good days and bad, love always prevailed. They cannot wait to share this joyous day with you.

P.S. Who knows what the future holds? Maybe Mike will find lactose pills that work.
To Be Continued…