OUR STORY

We met in high school...

by Brooks

Kara and I met our freshman year of high school at freshman orientation, which I actually don't remember... whoops! I thought we met at marching band camp over the summer (yes - we were super cool band kids). Thankfully, Kara does not hold it against me that I do not remember exactly when we met :) We became great friends over the next several years, but didn't express an interest in one another until just a few months before the Horst family was scheduled to move to Pennsylvania while Kara's dad was still active duty in the U.S. Army. After (not-so) secretly dating for a few months (shhh - don't tell anyone), and realizing that I probably didn't want to spend the rest of my life without Kara in it, I officially asked Mr. Kelly for his permission to date Kara in June 2012.

From July 2012 to March 2017, Kara and I dated long-distance. By my calculations (and with some assistance from the internet), the total time that we dated long-distance was 4 years, 8 months, and 14 days (or just 1,718 days)... During that time, Kara finished high school in Pennsylvania while I finished high school in Florida, and the long-distance dating continued while we both attended college - Kara in South Carolina and me in Florida. While we were living in separate states, we made every effort we could to see each other on a pretty regular basis - about once every four to eight weeks. During the school year, either I would drive up to Charleston to visit Kara, or she would fly down to Tampa. We were also able to see each other for longer periods of time during the summer and around holidays such as Thanksgiving & Christmas. Although the quantity of time we spent together during this season wasn't as much as either of us would have liked, the quality of the time spent together was always the best.

A few months after we both graduated, God answered our prayers by providing Kara with a job opportunity in Tampa, which led to our long-distance dating officially being over! The past year has been a wonderful time of growing even closer together, establishing some wonderful new friendships, getting used to the fact that we live 10 minutes down the road from one another (no more sad goodbyes at the airport for us), and getting engaged!

God has always been, and will continue to be, at the center of our relationship, and I thank Him daily for allowing me to meet Kara Noelle Horst back in 2009 at high school freshman orientation. Kara - I love you so much and I cannot wait to marry you!!!

One of the first photos we took together... #selfie on top of Stone Mountain in Georgia on a high school band trip. [April 2010] — One of the first photos we took together... **#selfie** on top of Stone Mountain in Georgia on a high school band trip. [April 2010]

The first time we saw each other after we both went away to college! We met in Savannah, GA for the day. [November 2013] — The first time we saw each other after we both went away to college! We met in Savannah, GA for the day. [November 2013]

Brunch date with some of our favorite friends at one of our favorite places - Oxford Exchange (see "Things To Do"). [February 2018] — Brunch date with some of our favorite friends at one of our favorite places - Oxford Exchange (see "Things To Do"). [February 2018]

How he asked...

by Kara

One of my very favorite things has always been paper - snail mail, paper crafts, sticky note love notes, etc. When I stumbled across Rifle Paper Co. years ago it instantly became one of my favorite brands for design and gifts. Ever since, I have collected all kinds of their stationary, accessories and prints.

When I found out Rifle Paper Co. would be sponsoring the Winter Park Autumn Art Festival last October, I had to go. I sent Brooks their Instagram post knowing we were overdue for a date and he would probably be up for the day trip. Little did I know that Brooks was already planning to take me to the art festival… this date was not intended to be my idea, but he played it cool.

A few nights before the festival though, I started feeling like I had picked up the headcold floating around my office. Brooks showed up with with Airborne and my roommate, nurse Ashley, was ready with tissues and tea. Despite feeling under the weather, Brooks insisted we needed our overdue time together, and there was a print I had in mind to add to my collection from the art festival.

Brooks’ brother, Chase, lived in Winter Park while attending Rollins College, and the Lackmann’s frequently visited for his baseball games. When they happened to be going over the same day for just that, it was nothing out of the ordinary. A week or so before the festival, Brooks mentioned meeting his parents for dinner at a boutique hotel near campus where they were going to stay the night before.

After eating brunch at my apartment - which Brooks was late for - we made the drive to Winter Park. I cozied up in the car and closed my eyes for most of the way. We enjoyed a few hours walking the artist’s stands, grabbing some coffee and Brooks buying my new print before going to Chase’s apartment to change and freshen up for dinner.

Once dressed and ready, we left for where Brooks' parents would be meeting us on campus. When we took a turn down a path along the lake, it didn’t seem like it would take us where we needed to be but I was following Brooks. (In my defense - I am not allowed to navigate ever, and I was taking all the cold meds.)

He lead me to a blanket set out with yellow flowers and a beautiful leather scrapbook. He asked if I wanted to sit down and I anxiously replied “aren’t we supposed to meet your parents for dinner?” I don’t remember if this prompted a laugh or eyeroll from Brooks, but it is what it is.

We flipped through “Our Adventure Book” and so many pieces of our story from the 9+ years we’ve known each other. I couldn’t believe everything Brooks had kept and collected to document it all. I was finally overwhelmed with the reality of what was unfolding and it was almost too sweet to take it all in.

We continued down the edge of the lake to a gazebo that had been out of sight before. Set with even more flowers and some of my favorite photos of us, it was perfect. I surprisingly held it together as a sincere and choked up Brooks asked me to be his forever. It could not have been an easier yes, as he gifted me the most beautiful reminder of the covenant we wanted to make. (Please note: Brooks is cheesin’ in the photos because I told him not to put my ring on my finger upside down - he was nervous.)

He also had another gift - a custom print of us from Anna Rifle Bond, of Rifle Paper Co. It is amazing and my dearest possession. When we turned around to both of our families there (mine from out of state) to share in celebrating with us, it truly could not have been any more beautiful.

I am so overwhelmed with joy and gratitude that we get to do this life together! I cannot wait to see what more the Lord has written for our story. Brooks Conrad Lackmann, I love you so.

Thank you to Captured by Belinda Photography for our wonderful proposal photos!