We met when working in our first jobs out of highschool. I was hired in August of 2018, Joseph in June of 2019. We didn't really speak to each other much until 2020, when a co-worker of ours (funny enough also named Cheyenne), suggested to Joe that we would make a cute couple. We started talking more at work and getting closer for the next couple of weeks. The friday after Valentine's day, he caught me as we were leaving for the day and asked if I'd like to grab dinner sometime - me having never dated before said 'Sure!' and kept walking to my car. As soon as I sat down and closed the door, I realized what I had done. I quickly stalked facebook and messaged him saying how sorry and anxious I was. While he acted like it was no big deal at the time, he's admitted that he thought I was rejecting him! Since then, we've had quite a few laughs over it and it has become one of my favorite stories.

A year into my Masters, I was feeling very worn down and exhausted from years of constant schooling and a particularly difficult set of courses. After an emotional call with my dad, he suggested we take a trip to see him and my grandparents in Kentucky, timing perfectly with my birthday. It was only after he proposed that he said he had intended to ask him for his blessing during that trip. The weekend after we returned, he bought the ring. He had attempted to convince me several times to go to one of the fanciest restaurants in town, but, as I was starting a new set of courses, I didn't feel much like going - telling him over and over, we should wait to go for a special occasion, like his birthday in a month. Little did I know it was supposed to be a for a special occasion. After turning the idea down all weekend, Monday after work, he suggested we go out to dinner to our favorite pizza place, the same restaurant as our first date. We got our normal order, splitting a pizza, then he drove me to a local garden I had been wanting to see. After walking around a bit and looking at some flowers, I turned around, he was on one knee asking me to marry him. As we discussed waiting to finish the emotional and financial burdens of being in school, I hadn't expected it to happen. I was completely blindsided and nearly passed our from the shock and excitement I felt!