Nic and I met for our first date at a coffee shop in charming Mariemont. I didn't know it at the time but I would soon find out that Nic's love for coffee almost comes close to his love for me. Our connection was instant! My mom had always told me that we were a family of huggers. I didn't think I was a part of that until that day when I instantly got out of my car, saw Nic and gave him a big hug whether he wanted it or not, haha! Our date continued to the next stop; 21 c's art Museum. We walked around for what felt like hours (and probably was) getting to know each other and sharing stories. We continued with a movie and afterwards we just didn’t want the date to end. I instantly found out that Nic and I had a big thing in common. We are both huge family people! I found this out by being introduced to Nic's parents on our first date which was lovely but unexpected for us all! But really we are huge family people and as I got to hear more of Nic’s story I was more and more interested with the adopted boy from Russia. At this point a normal date would usually end, you'd hug each other goodbye, say it was lovely to meet you and either hope they text you the second you get in your car or never again. But for Nic and I it feels like it never ended. After that date we spent almost ever minute together. I think our parents were probably concerned at that time how rarely they saw us haha! From making sandwiches in my parents basement, to date night with the boys in the hangar we are getting married in, to proposals with covid and everything in-between we have spent every second loving each other. While we might have been eager to jump into our relationship we sure took our time understanding and growing to love one another. After over 3 years of being together I can't wait to keep our longest date going. I'm so honored to become Nic's wife and can't wait for our future together.

Most of you have heard the story of our engagement by now but why not relive it; it's funny. Nic and I had talked about getting married for a long time but Nic was waiting for just the right moment and boy did he find the perfect one. After weeks of planning and throwing me off his path the day came he was going to ask me. I had a small hunch that he was going to ask me that day but I most definitely did not expect the day to pan out like it did. We were sitting at brunch and Nic stepped out to take a phone call. He came back in to the restaurant, very serious ,and quietly told me we needed to leave. With a confused look on my face he said "someone in your family is covid positive we need to go get a test". We promptly got our bill, put on masks and looked everywhere for at home covid tests. We arrived home to take our test. I was very confident that I was negative because 4 days prior I had tested negative for a work party. But to my disappointment within a minute of taking my test a small line appeared indicating it was positive. I instantly ran to the other room in tears because at this point I knew my hunch was not a hunch but an actual plan that was now ruined. I called my sister to tell her and as she was calming me down Nic comes bursting in the room to save the day. I abruptly hung up the phone and turned to Nic who's now down on one knee. Through my tears I mumbled he could wait and that he "didn't need to ask me now". He immediately stopped me and said," No, there is no better time to do this than right now". He asked me to marry him and I instantly went in for a kiss and he cautiously kissed me back in fear of catching covid! He found his right moment and it was absolutely perfect.

I remember the day Janie and I met like I remember the first time I rode a bike or the first time I was able to stay at the home alone as a tween. I remember it like I remember the way autumn smells and the happiness I feel when Christmas time comes around and I get to be with everyone I love. Those feelings are the things I felt when I first saw Janie. I pulled up to Mariemont Starbucks in my not so awesome Kia Forte, electric blue of course sitting there looking at the time and she was a tad bit behind. I was thinking, great I got ghosted but right as I was about to leave Janie pulled up in her VW Jetta and I started to get nervous. Thinking it may not go well or what if she thinks I am weird or awkward…I almost just pulled out and acted like I did not see her. I didn’t though, I took a deep breath and I got out of the car to see quite literally someone that took my breath away. I immediately thought oh Sh*t, I am way out of my league. Though I was thinking this the first thing she did was give me a hug and if anyone knows me, they know I am not the biggest hugger. She hugged me though and immediately all my doubts and fears left. I knew right there something was different with her. She had a warmth about her that I had not experienced before. So, after we got acquainted in the parking lot we went into the Starbucks and ordered coffee and sat down. We spoke about all sorts of things, like how big her family is and her and I’s love for art. As we finished our coffee, I started thinking dang…I really do not want this to end so, I suggested we go to the 21c hotel downtown and go look at the art there. Janie agreed and we continued our date at the 21c. We drove together in the Kia to downtown and at the time it was cold, very cold with a wind chill. So, as we got out and where walking to 21c Janie grabbed on to me to keep warm and we walked together, not talking but for me at least just enjoying a moment…and trying to not think about how cold it was. On our way back we passed the AMC movie theatre in Anderson and yet again I thought…dang I really do not want this to end. So, as we were passing through Newtown almost back to her car, I blurted out “Hey do you want to go see a movie.” Janie agreed and from there I turned around and we spent the last part of the night next to each other watching Bumblebee happier than I had felt in so long. That’s it, that's our first date story….or at least the first 24hrs of our first date because as we like to say our first date hasn’t ended and the adventures and memories together are just beginning.