How I met Jeff Jack.

I have a crazy, great friend named Matt Carter. I don’t recall when or where I first met Matt, but I did, and it’s been a great friendship ever since. He lived in the Dallas area and I was in Arkansas as our friendship grew. He had moved to Georgia for work and to be closer to his family while I moved to Austin. Fast forward a few months to April 2013.


I received a text message from Matt one day in April stating that he had a great friend from the Dallas area who just moved to Austin. He described this friend as an “incredible Godly dude.” Then he asked if he could send this guy my name and number. If nothing else, it could be two people who love Jesus and are new to Austin meeting and becoming friends. I was usually turned off to that sort of stuff, but I found it hard to turn down an opportunity to meet an “incredible Godly dude,” so I said, “Sure.” That was that. No more words about it from Matt or this “incredible Godly dude.” I forgot all about the conversation and went on with my life. I later heard from Matt asking if his friend had called, which he had not. Then he told me he was coming to Texas in the summer. We made plans to hang out for the three days he’d be in Austin. Fast forward to June 2013.


Matt arrives on Monday, June 24, and tells me that he has another friend in Austin who was going to meet up with us when he got off from work. I like meeting new people and making new friends, so the more the merrier! Matt wanted barbecue for dinner, so we decided to eat at Stiles Switch BBQ. His friend was going to meet us there. As soon as we drove into the parking lot, it was very clear that this restaurant was not open on Mondays. So, we waited in the empty parking lot for Matt’s friend to show up so we could make up a Plan B. Fast forward just a few minutes.
A maroon Honda CRV pulls up next to us, and then out walks a tall, dark, handsome, Chucks-wearing guy. I immediately turned into a shy 12 year old girl who couldn’t make eye contact or words. This guy was cute! Matt quickly introduced me and then they began talking music pedals (something like that…who knows). While they talked, I sat in the passenger seat thinking, “He’s cute AND has the coolest name on the planet.” But, he didn’t look at me except one time to say, “Nice to meet you.” I kept reminding myself just to stay cool and not let any crazy show.


Once we finally got seated somewhere to eat, conversation went well. I enjoyed watching and listening to the two of them catch up and then throwing my nervous two cents in every once and a while. After dinner, we went to Mozart’s for coffee. We sat out by the lake for hours. One thing was confirmed. I had a big ol’ crush on Jeff Jack after just one night. I remember going home that night and praying, “God, if this isn’t my husband, please don’t let me fall for him.” Then I fell asleep with this boy on my mind.


Matt and I spent the next day hiking the Green Belt. Matt got us miles off track, but we did successfully complete about a million of them in the heat of Austin summer and didn’t keel over. Even though I almost killed Matt for getting us so lost! I was just too distracted. Not wanting to be “that” girl and talk about Jeff the entire time, I just kept all I wanted to say inside my mind. I was hoping and wishing he would hang out with us that night, which he did. We met for take 2 of Stiles Switch BBQ. We ate dinner and then played washers and darts….or attempted to play. This is where the flirting began. I mean, doesn’t everyone’s hands brush across each other when handing darts over to the next thrower? ;) There was also some competitiveness, which I loved. For some reason, I like to compete in things I’m no good at. It gave us plenty to flirt about, so all was well. This night ended the same way. “God, if this isn’t my husband, please don’t let me fall for him.” Then I fell asleep with this boy on my mind.


Now it’s Wednesday. This was Matt’s last day in Austin, which meant my last day to spend with him and probably my last night to hang out with Jeff. Matt and I went to Top Golf. It was my first time there, and I got hooked! On the way, he tells me that the guy he texted me about in April, the “incredible Godly dude” guy, was Jeff Jack. I was totally ok with that. I was ok with him finally using my number if he ever decided to do so, and if he even kept it. There was excitement inside of me. But I was also very guarded. I had obviously fallen for this guy, even though I asked God not to let me just in case. I was to a point in my life where I was ready for the next guy I date to be my husband. I honestly had the thought, after two nights of hanging out with Jeff, “Could this be my husband?” I kept myself guarded and my hopes down just in case he wasn’t my guy. Jeff met us that night for dinner and Putt Putt. I honestly did not want the night to be over. I had kinda liked hanging out with him. We said our goodbyes. Matt and Jeff hugged bye, and I gave Jeff a nice pat on the arm (like a dummy). As soon as we got in the car, Matt said, “You could have at least given him a hug!” I knew I blew that chance! When Matt and I got back to my apartment, I checked out the Putt Putt score cards. Jeff only beat me by 3 shots. Of course I took this as my chance to talk to him more and made Matt text on my behalf to rub it in. This is young relationship flirting at its finest. Instead of responding through Matt’s phone, he responded to my phone. This was the start of a lot of text messages over the next two days. Oh, and he hit me on the head with his golf club. There was mention of that in all of our text messages as well.


After lots of text messages, and then not hearing from him for a couple of days (I refused to text him at this point), he finally texted. There were two more days of lots of text messages before we decided to hang out in person with no Matt. Just the two of us. I wasn’t sure if it was a date or a friend thing, so I went with no expectations in mind. Jeff did a good job not to lead me on via texts. As soon as he greeted me in the parking lot of Mozart’s on Tuesday, July 2, he stopped me and said, “Ok, there are few things I want to tell you. I like you, I think you’re gorgeous, and I was hoping we could make this a date.” “Heck yea,” I said…or maybe that’s what I thought. I did say, “Of course.” I was thrilled and respected the fact that he wanted to ask me out in person. The way I always felt it should be done. We walked hand in hand the rest of the night drinking coffee and climbing up Mount Bonnell to watch the sunset. I knew on this night that I could marry him. This night my prayer was more like, “Thank you, Jesus!” And then I fell asleep with this boy on my mind.


We went out every night that week, and then I was off to Arkansas for 9 days. While I was gone, there was constant communication via text messages. There were also phone calls every evening. I missed him. I couldn’t wait to get home and see him again. And I did. The rest is history. Wonderful, happy history.


As I type this, I am 68 days away from marrying him. I thank God for bringing him to me and for not letting me doubt one second that this is the guy I choose to spend my entire life with. I chose him 10 months ago, I choose him today, and I will choose him every day until I die. And that, folks, is how we met. Thanks for your support, love, and encouragement! It has been a fun journey and will only get better from here.

Signed the future Mrs. Jeff Jack,
-Katie

Our engagement story.

January 25, 2014

And the happiest day of my life went a little something like this…

Jeff and I had plans to spend the entire day together on Saturday. Spending weekend time together isn’t unusual, so I had no reason to suspect anything from it. I was extra excited about this day though because in the past 8 days, I had spent maybe 3 hours with him. I was in need of some Jeff Jack time! We were going to start our day off with breakfast. He said he found a new spot close to me, so he was going to pick me up at 10:00 am. After that, we literally had a full day’s agenda. I was ready!

I heard his knock (because he has a knock) at 10:00 am sharp. I opened the door so fast with so much excitement to see him and spend the day with him. Instead of Jeff, there stood my sister. She was holding her phone up in one hand (filming) and a Starbucks’ cup in the other with “Jeff” written on it. I stood there in complete shock at the fact that Emily was at my door, and then I started freaking out a little….or maybe a lot. I hugged her, I cried (the ugly cry), and I was shaking almost uncontrollably. She then handed me a single rose and a card. I continued to cry and shake like crazy as I read his note. He told me that he knew we had an entire day planned together, but he thought I’d like his new plans better (he knows me well). I was on a scavenger hunt that would lead me to him. I would be given clues, and at each stop I would have to complete a challenge to receive my next clue. Then he wrote, “I can’t wait to see you. It’s time.” Emily delivered my first clue, and it read, “Pancakes and queso, coffee and cards, being here with you is a favorite by far, our first hangout, where I’m perfectly content, just to hear you laugh, and how your day went.” I immediately knew we were going to Kerbey Lane. After I changed clothes (the Chuck’s, t-shirt, and flannel button-up just weren’t going cut it anymore), we were on the way, Emily driving and being with me the whole way.

When we got to Kerbey Lane, Em told me to lead the way. I walked into the back room to find his sister, Allison and her husband, Brady sitting at a table sipping coffee. Again, I flipped out. Because Kerbey Lane is our favorite go to spot to play cards, my first challenge was to beat Allison at a game of Gin before I could receive my next clue. I later found out she secretly beat me but let me win, which was a good move on her part or else we would have been sitting there all day! They handed me another single rose and Clue #2, which said, “Pizza and pints, in a house on a bend, we’ve had dinner with strangers, we’ve had dinner with friends, and one night when leaving, under bright and shining moon, I first said, “I love you,” and you said it too!” Emily drove me to Pinthouse Pizza, which is in fact where we said, “I love you” for the first time.

We walked to the back of the restaurant and out the back doors where I found my mom and dad standing. I began the ugly cry again. As I’m hugging them and crying, I see my brother out of the corner of my eye walking towards me. I screamed and fell to the ground with more tears. I was so overwhelmingly happy they were all there. When I finally got my composure, they told me my next challenge. The third time I ever hung out with Jeff Jack we played Putt Putt. He ended up hitting me in the head with his club, but that’s a different story for a different blog. ☺ This head bonk, however, is what led to the first text messages between the two of us that night, so I didn’t mind it too much! In the parking lot of Pinthouse Pizza was a golf ball, coffee can and putter propped up over to the side. I had to hit the ball into the coffee can to get my next clue. When I finally did that (hardest challenge by far…we’ll leave out details of how I managed to succeed), my sweet parents and brother handed me another single rose and my third clue. It said, “Firewords and Mozart’s, sunset in your eyes, your beauty was a sight to see, and it only grows with time, up there on that mountaintop, the second day of July, I looked at you and thought inside, “This Katie Hurt is mine!”” I knew without a doubt our next stop would be Mt. Bonnell, our first date spot.

Emily makes the trek up the mountain with me taking pictures the whole way to the top! I walked her towards where Jeff and I stood on our first date. As we got closer I see his brother, Kevin and his wife, Alyson standing waiting on us. I couldn’t get to them fast enough and hug them both! I then hear Jeff’s mom and turn around to see her and Jeff’s dad walking towards me! After I stopped hugging and crying again, Aly hands me a pole with a string and hook attached to it. She said that Jeff told them I hung the moon, so my next challenge was to clip the hook into the moon, which was a spray-painted styrofoam ball floating in a tub of water. The wind and my shakes were against me, but I finally hooked it and literally “hung the moon.” A few months ago, Jeff and I decided to make a song called I Like the Way You Hung the Moon our song, and that phrase has stuck with us. Yet another perfectly thought out spot and challenge. Words could not express my happiness! Because I completed my challenge, I received another red rose and my final clue, which said, “You can see me where you are, but I’m rather pretty far, follow the river up to the bridge, you’d better take the car, climb the rocks you climbed before, don’t slip and cut your knee, this is the final clue so quick, Babe, hurry to me!” I couldn’t get to him fast enough! His final clue led us to a look out point at Austin’s 360 Bridge. I had been here one time before with my parents about 4 years ago. During that time, Dad and I both slipped and fell on the rocky hike, hence the “don’t slip and cut your knee” comment! Jeff and I had not been here together, which made it even more special. Emily still faithfully stayed with me up another mountain snapping pictures along the way. As I reached the top, there he stood. I don’t think he has ever looked more handsome than he did at that moment. I literally ran to him. All I remember is hugging him, and kissing him, giggling, and crying. I thanked him for the most amazing day. He said the sweetest things, which I wish I could remember it all! I do remember (and I paraphrase) him pointing out the fact that every stop I had made that morning has been symbolic in our relationship thus far. He wanted me to meet him at a spot we had not been to together, because we were about to embark on something new together. He told me he didn’t know what our future held, but he wanted to experience it all with me! I was squeezing him so tight that when he finally managed to pull away, he got down on his knee, called me by my entire name, and asked me to marry him. Of course I said, “YES!” Strangers came out from behind bushes (he asked them to hide and give us a few minutes) cheering and celebrating with us, my sister was cheering, and his siblings were all there. Emily and his brother in law Brady did such a good job of capturing it all on camera! It was PERFECT. After we hugged and drooled over my new engagement ring (that might have just been me), we headed back down the mountain. When I got to the bottom, his parents were standing there with his sister, Laura, on Facetime. She was unable to come because of work, but I loved getting to talk to her and see her face in the midst of it all. Then Emily gave me a huge hug from my brother in law, Drew, who was also unable to be there because of work. We were then off to one of our favorite little Italian restaurants where Jeff had made a lunch reservation for all of us. Our families finally got to meet for the first time, and we just got to spend sweet time together sharing pictures and videos and stories from our fairy tale day.

I am so humbled that God loves me so much to bless me with way more than I deserve. Jeff Jack is an answer to so many prayers, and I give God all the glory for bringing him to me. I cannot wait to marry him and spend the rest of my life with my best friend feeling this happy and doing my very best to make him happy as well. I am beyond blessed that our family made the trip to Austin and were all part of it. I couldn’t have been more surprised! Thank you EVERYONE for the calls, texts, messages, likes, comments. We are overwhelmed by your love and support. Thank you for sharing this with us! Let the wedding planning begin!


Signed the future Mrs. Jeff Jack,

<>< Katie