We finally started dating in 2013 thanks to a lengthy and eloquent apology from me for being “lame” for a while. The snowball effect became a full force phenomenon. It felt like we belonged together. I love her more with every word, look, and giggle. We knew a long time ago that we were meant to spend forever together. The fact that she can put up with me says a lot. She once said of a cheesy photo of us on Facebook, “I’m a sweet, easy-going gal and he’s always on 10 and doing too much.” That pretty much sums up our lives. She balances me out and accepts my idiosyncrasies. 

I was saving money to buy a new truck when it dawned on me one night; I needed her as my wife more than any material item on earth. I finally got the rock, set-up a day that I knew she’d always remember, and hit a knee. Thinking of the tears welling in her eye as she realized what I was about to ask still chokes me up. December 10, 2016 will be the best day of my life and I can’t wait to see my beautiful bride walking down the aisle to forever vow to tolerate this crazy character.

Her Story:  From the first time I saw Chris walking dutifully through the newsroom, I had a feeling that he would be a part of my life in some way. Overtime we went from being strangers, to coworkers who picked on and annoyed each other from time to time, to work friends who shared stories of our dating lives and failed relationships. Our friendship continued to grow as we worked side by side. We were living out our career dreams together, celebrating our successes and helping each other get better along the way. 

The start of our relationship is not only due to the aforementioned apology Chris delivered on our first official date (he was apologizing for standing me up the first time I ever had the courage to ask him to hang out), but also to two friends who sneakily left us at Black Market 280 one night after work and forced us to confront our feelings for each other. Without the crafty work of Ted McInerney and Chris McCulley you may not even be reading this right now. Thanks guys! 

Chris is truly my best friend. Our friendship has helped create a solid foundation for our relationship. Six years later, as I look back on how this all began, I now know that the first time Chris and I met in that newsroom, was a key moment in a divine plan that was carefully crafted long ago.