Melinda (Andrew's cousin) was instrumental in introducing Kati and Andrew. While he was visiting, she convinced him to come with them to church on Wednesday night so he could meet this amazing girl. Unfortunately, while he went with Melinda that night, the girl never showed up.... Meanwhile, Melinda had told Kati's sister Kristin that Andrew was going to be at church on Wednesday night. Kristin told Kati she HAD to go that week, so she could meet Melinda's cousin. Excited, she went with Kristin and was thrilled to see him there. Unfortunately, he apparently had no idea who she was and just ignored her. She went home disappointed... To be continued...

Wednesday evening, Andrew told Melinda he was sad Kati hadn't showed up. "What are you talking about? She's right there!" said Melinda, as she pointed at Kati, who was then walking out the door. Later that evening, Andrew and Melinda continued to talk about Kati, and Andrew told Melinda she should just invite Kati over for dinner and board games the next night. Thankfully, Kati agreed (very enthusiastically too)! Dinner, board games, adventures with the neighbor, deep sea exploration...

Andrew awoke on Friday morning to be greeted with two text messages: one, from Kati, saying she'd enjoyed meeting him and wishing him safe travels home; the other, from American Airlines, telling him his flight home had been canceled, and that his next available flight was 48 hours away. After calling to confirm there really were NO other flights before then (?!?!?!), Andrew decided to make the best of the opportunity by asking Kati out on a date that evening. Kati and Andrew went to Your Pie for delicious pizzas, where they both ordered individual pesto pizza. Later, they spent an hour or so exploring Home Goods together. At the end of the evening, Andrew asked Kati if she'd like to go on another date the next morning. They settled on taking Kati's kayaks out (one of which was brand new {Kati's nieces and nephews have lovingly named it Andrew's Kayak now}) so she could show him one of her favorite ponds. After a fun exploration, which included finding a tree growing inside of another tree in the middle of the pond, they finished off the date with lunch at Chick Fil A (where Andrew ordered the exact same thing that Kati did).

Kati came down to visit Andrew after Christmas. One of the things he'd planned for them was a visit to the Biltmore, as Kati loves old buildings and beautiful things. Little did she know, he had something else planned for that day too... The drive was about two hours (since they missed a turn...), so Kati and Andrew amused themselves by playing Two Truths and a Lie. Despite Andrew's plans to propose in a romantic, secluded spot outdoors, God had other plans. It was raining... Hoping to get there before the rain started in earnest, Andrew and Kati headed off to the conservatory first thing. After wandering around (and absconding with a strawberry guava fruit) they stumbled upon the perfect place for a proposal: a quiet, beautiful room filled with beautiful white flowers. Having stumbled upon it, Andrew was caught a bit off guard and chickened out. But, after having gone through the garden shop, he casually suggested they wander back through there on the way up to the Big House. He was ready... But, once again, God had other plans: when they got there, Andrew and Kati found another couple in there who would. not. leave. After spending at least 5 minutes pointing out how that plant was pretty too, just like the other ones, Andrew gave up waiting and went to get some lunch with Kati. It was cold and wet, but the chicken pita Andrew got for lunch was delicious. Kati thought the same thing about the identical chicken pita she also ordered...

After searching for a place to propose for a few hours in the extremely crowded Biltmore estate, Andrew had resigned himself to proposing over dinner. Not really what he'd had in mind, but it would work. He'd made reservations for a nice dinner place (that served Octopus! or at least did, before they changed their menu the previous week...). As he suggested they start heading over there, Kati pointed out that they still didn't have a picture of them in front of the Biltmore. "Perfect!", Andrew thought. This is the opportunity. He casually agreed, "Oh yeah, that sounds like a good idea". But, when they went outside, it was raining again... Not to be foiled again, Andrew ran back in and bought an umbrella (the best $25 dollars ever spent on an overpriced umbrella). They strolled down to the terraces that overlooked the Biltmore from across the lawn. When they climbed to the top, it was deserted except for one other couple (Andrew still insists that it was the same couple they had trouble with in the conservatory). When it became clear that they weren't going to get a moment alone up there, Andrew decided to just propose anyways. He turned to Kati and said he had another round of Two Truths and a Lie for Kati. "My name is George." "I love you." And... "I want you to marry me!" Caught completely off guard, all Kati could manage to say was "Are you for real!?" Andrew pulled out the ring box he'd made for her and showed her that he was, in fact, "for real". She said yes :) They went on to enjoy their first dinner as an engaged couple where, of course, Kati ordered the same thing Andrew did.