Welcome to our forever

We met at Hy-Vee in Sioux City. Jacob worked in produce and Bee worked as a cashier (and occasionally floral when they didn't have anyone.) The first time we interacted, Jacob asked for the key to water the flowers outside, but it had just rained, so Bee said he didn't have to. After a few months, Bee asked a coworker for a ride home, but he got off work several hours after Bee did, so she waited around and started talking to people. Jacob was one of those people. We started chatting, and Jacob offered Bee a ride home. This is where Bee's curiosity sparked. Jacob suddenly stopped showing up to work, so Bee sent Jacob a message asking where he was. He had moved home, since he was done with college, so Bee took over Jacob's job in produce. We started talking more and more, when Jacob decided to tell Bee about a renaissance faire in Sioux Falls, SD. He was going to get a hotel for him and his friend, but Bee had invited them to stay the night. Jacob's friend didn't end up showing up, so we went together. Jacob showed up wearing all of his ren faire garb and didn't bring a spare pair of shoes. This was Bee's first faire, so she bought some generic outfit on Amazon. The rest was history. We look forward to going to the Renaissance Faire every year now because it reminds us of when we first started talking. Jacob has since learned to bring a backup pair of shoes.

Our first date was planned by Bee. We went to Bacon Creek Park in Sioux City, where we had a picnic and walked around the trail. The picnic consisted of ham sandwiches with the wrong kind of mayo, an entire cut up cantaloupe that was underripe, and lemonade. We spent the whole date talking about our budding relationship and our hopes and aspirations. Unfortunately, neither of us were wearing proper walking attire, so we ended up getting bitten by mosquitos and covered in blisters. By the end of it, we were both super uncomfortable, but unfazed by it because we had a great time learning about each other. We headed home and each took time to shower and change. We ended the night hanging out with some friends, where we accidentally became official due to a miscommunication to Bee's sister's boyfriend. We still fondly think of our first date and still try to recreate the magic every time we go on a date. Fun facts about our dating anniversary: it's also known as National Kissing Day.

The proposal was everything Bee could’ve ever dreamed of. We were dating for 5 years, so it was only time. After months of planning with the council (Jacob’s mom and Kitana Fischer,) he finally decided on when and where he was finally going to ask. Jacob was nervous the whole time, and if Bee didn’t already know that he was planning to propose, she would’ve figured it out. On the way to the site, we talked about our nerves and our future together, reminiscing on the years we’ve spent together. We pulled up to Center Grove Orchard and explored a bit before we stumbled upon a beautiful site: four pumpkins painted with the words “Will You Marry Me?” and Kitana at the standby, ready to take photos of the moment. Jacob fumbled his speech because he was lost in the moment. To no one’s surprise, Bee accepted! On the back of the last pumpkin was painted, “Bee said yes!” We spent the rest of the day at the orchard picking a bouquet of sunflowers and exploring a corn maze. We rode the tractor back to the start of the farm, where we purchased goodies from their store. We headed back to Altoona, where we ate dinner at Texas Roadhouse before Jacob said that he had another surprise in mind. He started driving towards Pleasant Hill, but turned at the last-minute back into Altoona to his parents’ house. Waiting for us there was a party with many of our friends and family. After talking and enjoying time with everyone, we headed out to our favorite dive bar where we sang karaoke and danced the night away. Though it's been almost 2 years since the proposal, we still look back fondly at it and laugh about the awkward moments. The following month, Jacob re-proposed with an onion ring with a better rehearsed speech, which made Bee cry with joy. Now, every time we eat onion rings and there's a suspiciously ring-sized one, one of us re-proposes.