Eric and Deanna met at a Greek-life function in March of 2012. While on the same team for Greek Week, they began dating. Their first date was at Bonzai Sushi in downtown Kirksville. They made it official before the 2012-2013 school year after Eric helped Deanna move into her college house, "J&F", after Deanna's late dog Bruiser suffered from heat exhaustion from the ordeal of moving. They saw each other nearly daily until Eric began law school at the University of Missouri. When Deanna began an internship at the state capitol, she also relocated to central Missouri. Their relationship continued to flourish and they moved in together after Eric began working as a staff attorney at the state senate. Soon after moving into their home, they adopted April from an animal rescue where they raised her into her sassy self. Eric and Deanna have traveled together for various occasions, including to her family in California and Idaho, and to visit his family in Iowa. Their destinations have varied from the mountains of the Sierra Nevadas and Colorado Rockies to feeding alligators in Alabama while on a trip to the beaches in Dauphin Island, AL. They've also enjoyed time in Camuy, Puerto Rico for her cousin's wedding; and Cozumel, Mexico as a celebration for Deanna's completion of her graduate program. Whether they're playing on the lake at Indian Hills in Cuba, MO, or strolling through the tree line at her parent's home in Richmond, MO, you'll probably find these two together. If not, the other isn't too far away.
Eric proposed on a trip to Thousand Hills State Park right outside of Kirksville, MO. This spot on Forest Lake has held a special place in their hearts since college. While at Truman State, they would take Deanna's bulldog, Bruiser, on (very short) walks near the beach, and they've hiked, kayaked, and canoed there numerous times over the years.