We first crossed paths on Christian Mingle, and from that moment on, our conversations became a daily ritual. Rachel was nestled in Green Bay, while Ben was in Stevens Point then Madison. Despite the two-hour distance, we found ourselves spending nearly every weekend together, making the most of our time and distance. Fun Fact: On the drive home from our first date, the wheel detached from Ben's car on Highway 10, signifying we would be in for a wild ride together.

We packed up and moved to Pikeville, KY for Ben's first two years of medical school, bringing our fur baby, Tonks, along for the adventure. Rachel worked remotely as a full-time graphic designer and the world's best cat mom. As we settled into our new life, we stumbled upon Luna, a street-savvy stray, who quickly became our second cherished fur baby.

We moved to Paducah, KY, to embark on Ben's rotation years in medical school, embracing a fresh new chapter together. By May 2023, Ben celebrated a major milestone, proudly putting on his doctor's coat and marking the end of a journey of relentless effort and dedication.

We ventured to Columbus, OH, for Ben’s first year of residency, stepping into the biggest city we had ever called home. Though the year flew by in a whirlwind, it was packed with unforgettable moments and vibrant experiences.

We settled in Madison, WI, to wrap up the final three years of Ben's residency. In this new chapter, we bought our first home—one we designed from scratch—and got engaged. Now, with our families just two hours away, it feels like we’ve truly planted our roots.