After talking for a couple weeks, Joe and I set a day and time to have our first date. Joe and I both decided to have our first date on Monday, February 19th in 2018. Neither one of us were expected to be blown away by our connection which was almost immediate. When Joe picked me up, I could already tell that I was definitely in trouble with the handsome man that I was soon to be amazed by. After sitting in the restaurant for 2+ hours talking, I knew that he was someone special and I would be a fool to let him slip by.

Before Joe left for deployment we were less than 5 months into our relationship. We knew that God had planned our lives to be together, but it was too soon to get engaged. Joe had planned a surprise for me that was so amazing I couldn't even have imagined it. A couple weeks before his deployment, I went to visit Joe in Yankton, where he worked. We had planned to spend the weekend together and then I would return to Brookings only to meet up two weeks later. On Saturday afternoon Joe and I took a walk, he was excited and I could tell he had something up his sleeve for me. My instructions for the walk was to keep my eyes forward and to be slightly ahead of him. I figured he had something in his back pocket, but I knew that it wasn't an engagement ring, due to our previous conversations on engagements. I walked with Joe to a historic bridge in Yankton. It was a beautiful summer day and the sight of the bridge made things click in to place. On the bridge there were locks that couples/families/friends had locked on to make a statement of their commitment. I have always wanted to do this with my future special significant other, but had never done it. When we got to the center of the bridge, Joe pulls out a lock with two keys and our names/anniversary written on it. He told me that he loved me and wanted to show me his commitment to me. We locked the lock onto the bridge (which is still there) and threw the keys into the river. I was on cloud 9 and so unbelievably loved by the amazing man standing next to me. I thought all the surprises were done until Joe pulls out a ring from his pocket. My heart jumped into my stomach as he told me how much he loved me and promised to one day marry me. As he put the promise ring on my finger and held me close, I knew then that this was one of the happiest days of my life.

The morning on May 17th, Joe and I decided we should do something fun before I go into work for the day. I suggested going for a walk and we decided on Falls Park. It was a beautiful day and a walk just felt perfect. Joe treated me to Caribou coffee and then we headed to the Falls. We walked around for awhile, talking and laughing, soaking up every moment we had together. When we had someone take a photo of us at one of the scenic points at the Falls, they suggested heading up to the tower for the best photo opportunity. We decided that was a great idea and headed that way. Upon getting to the tower and taking the elevator up, we were met by a family just about to leave. We were left as the only ones up at the tower. We looked out for awhile, snapped a couple of pictures, and talked about how perfect of a day it was. That was when Joe got down on one knee and asked the most life altering question, "Baylee Frankhauser, will you marry me?" Of course I said yes! Joe and I were standing there laughing and taking in the moment, when the same group of people that took our picture (suggested the tower) came up in the elevator. We laughed at the coincidence and shared our news with the group and asked if they would take another photo of us. We then headed back home full of joy and excitement to start our lives together as an engaged couple!