We're Getting Married!

Christian and I actually first met back in November of 2016 (Although this date is highly contested between us) at a mutual family friend's birthday party hosted by Christian's dad, John. Christian had just graduated from S&T and was staying with his dad at the time, and I had come up with my parents for the party. We only chatted for a few minutes and went our separate ways, neither one paying much attention to the other. Almost four years later, it was actually our parents encouraging us to go on a date that finally got Christian to reach out to me. The rest, as they say, is history!

After a couple weeks of texting and talking on the phone, Christian drove the 2 hours down to see me in Columbia, MO where I was living while attending Stephens College. He picked me up from the parking lot right outside my apartment and took me out to The Great Burr Oak. What we didn't account for was how bitterly cold and rainy it would be that evening. Despite the less-than-ideal weather, we sat at the base of that tree talking and looking at the stars for hours. And even though it was only our first date, we both said "I love you" that night.

On my last day of classes, I was supposed to be finishing up my day with my students and driving up to Kansas City to spend the weekend with Christian. Instead, I got a message saying, "I'm parked in the same spot as our first date." Me, being the skeptic that I am I responded with, "No you're not." But, he was. I ran across campus and there he was, standing outside his car holding flowers, just like he had been on that Friday evening in November when we went on our first date. He picked me up and drove me out to The Great Burr Oak once again. My best friend (and Maid of Honor) had been roped into the proposal plan and had arrived beforehand to lay out a picnic and flowers at the base of the tree. Hiding in her car, she watched as Christian got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I couldn't say yes fast enough.