We first met circa 2005 in the cafetorium of PHMS, where metal-mouthed, frizzy haired, eighth grader Lindsey found Nate to be an immature and dorky seventh grader. While they likely never spoke to each other during this school year, they made enough of an impression to remember one another years later when they reconnected in college. In 2012, Nate and Lindsey had another encounter in a health informatics course, where Nate sat directly behind Lindsey every Wednesday afternoon. They acknowledged that they knew each other on the first day of class, but never spoke to one another the rest of the semester… even though they lived right next to each other and walked the same route home after class. Throughout the rest of college, they continued to run into each other frequently. Nate taught anatomy lab with Lindsey’s best friend, so they often saw each other when the anatomy TAs got together for schooners or Halloween parties that Lindsey tagged along to. Lindsey and Nate moved to Kansas City for nursing school and physical therapy school, respectively, but rarely saw each other during these years. Shortly after Nate's graduation, they began texting more and more. During a particularly difficult week for Lindsey, Nate asked if she wanted to grab pizza and this came to be their first of many pizza dates. They grew to enjoy each other’s company throughout the rest of the summer until Nate moved to San Francisco for his first travel contract as a PT. They talked and video chatted multiple times a week. Lindsey even visited Nate in The Bay Area for his birthday. Nate took his next travel contract in rural Iowa after realizing he wanted to be within driving distance of Kansas City (and Finnegan). When that contract was up, he moved permanently to Kansas City.

On a quiet Friday morning when they both had the day off, Lindsey woke up hours before Nate ever expected, thanks to her night shift insomnia. Despite his many attempts to get Lindsey to go back to sleep, Nate instead decided to start making a surprise breakfast of salmon eggs benedict - one of Lindsey's favorites. Following breakfast, Lindsey walked into the living room where Nate had put up new artwork the night before, including a custom piece made by his best friend, and a small shelf where the ring box sat. With Finn watching from the couch, and Keeley meowing mid-speech, Nate got down on one knee and Lindsey emphatically said yes to Nate's proposal!