💕 How We Met They met the way many great 21st‑century romances begin: with a single tap on Zoosk. Randy sent Amy a heart — a simple gesture with unexpectedly big consequences. Normally, Amy had a strict rule: no personalized message, no reply. But Randy’s smile looked genuinely kind, and those dimples… well, they were persuasive. Her first message wasn’t flirty — it was practical. She warned him that Zoosk’s distance estimate was misleading. It measured “as the crow flies,” she explained, and the real drive was going to be much longer. That message sparked a conversation that felt easy, natural, and surprisingly fun. One heart turned into a chat, a chat turned into a connection, and before long, they realized they’d found something real — no shortcuts, no crows required. 🌽 The One‑Inch Miracle You hear about being a dollar short or a day late, but this connection was one inch from never happening. Randy had originally set his Zoosk height filter to 5'7". Amy is 5'8". Fortunately, after creating his account, Randy decided to expand his horizons — perhaps 5'8" would be acceptable — so he adjusted his profile. You’d think the height dilemma would’ve ended there. You would be wrong. When Randy first saw Amy in person, he took one look and concluded she was too tall. Perplexed but amused, Amy agreed to Randy’s request to measure her height. He got 5'8", exactly what her profile said… but he didn’t believe his own measurement. So, with her heels against the wall and standing up straight, she was measured a second time. Measure twice and cut once — and thankfully, the second measurement matched the first, and Amy was not cut. 🚜 Their First Date: April 11, 2020 Amy and Randy first met in person on April 11, 2020 — at the onset of COVID and while Randy was working ground getting ready to plant. With businesses closed and nearly two hours between them, meeting in person was going to be a challenge. Amy almost cancelled. States were closing their borders, and her employer had announced that if someone left Indiana for a non‑residence state and couldn’t return in time for their scheduled workdays, they could be terminated. Being the rule follower she is, this was almost enough to call the whole thing off. Fortunately, Randy convinced her everything would be fine and she should head to his farm in Camargo, IL. This was wildly out of character for Amy. She was known for being cautious — the kind of cautious where she never got into a vehicle with someone she just met, only met in public places, and always provided her parents with the location, phone number, and photo of anyone she went on a date with… plus updates after she safely left. But Randy’s smile and dimples convinced her to throw caution to the wind. And wind there was. After the nearly two‑hour drive, Amy arrived for her first tractor ride and some take‑out Italian. Then a severe storm rolled in — hail and all — making it clear she shouldn’t drive home. So it was decided she would stay in Camargo that night, already far beyond her comfort zone. The next day, Randy asked Amy to meet his parents. Amy thought it was… bold. Randy thought it was… odd. Here’s what actually happened: Randy’s dad was simply curious to meet Amy. But Randy agreed to the visit because he thought it was strange that his mom had requested it — and he wanted to reassure her. Later, Randy learned the truth: his dad had convinced his mom to ask in the first place. So, on their very first weekend, she went to meet his parents. ❤️ And the Rest Is Their Love Story From a single Zoosk tap, to a warning about crow‑flight distances, to a height check worthy of a home‑improvement project, to a first date involving tractors, hailstorms, and meeting the parents — their story has been full of laughter, surprises, and the kind of moments that make a relationship unforgettable. Now, they’re getting married — proof that sometimes love is just one inch away, and absolutely worth the extra drive.

“Who would have ever thought about a guy from Illinois meeting a girl from Indiana?” (Missed the date. I had no idea that I would soon have a collection of Randy quotes. And all the smiles, laughs, love and memories that come with them. In fact, I thought this was unique and had the quote put on a keychain for him.) “You are actually my biggest problem.” (In reference to Christmas gifts. I believe he settled on nothing. 🤣) 12/7/22 “We can do anything you want.” (Options were limited to Villa Grove and Tuscola.) 12/11/22 “That’s the nectar of the Gods.” (In reference to Pizza Hut’s deep dish, Pepperoni Lover’s pizza with extra sauce.) 7/24/23 “Being in a relationship with you is utopia.” (Although delayed, this does support his explanation that the following quote was just him comparing Amy to his favorite crop…beans.) 2/13/25 “Beans are like Amy. All you got to do is a half ass job taking care of them and they’ll be there for you.” (Amy was initially offended by this. But, in a charming way unique to Randy, he explained that this just meant Amy is not high maintenance and doesn’t cause headaches. He loves beans, they are his favorite crop.) 5/22/23 “If I was a hunter, I’d mount your head.” (Just after telling Amy she was a “keeper”.) 11/13/25