We’re getting married!

Most of you probably already know, but for those who don’t, here is the story of our “meet-cute”. I (Austyn) met a friend through my softball team who worked at a bowling alley. I was looking to join a bowling league and my friend informed me there was a spot open on her Wednesday night league, which happened to be the same night Josh played on a dart league at the same bowling alley. One night after our bowling league ended, a bunch of us, including some of the dart players, stayed late to bowl for fun. Initially, Josh did not speak to me which I would later find out was because of nerves. Eventually, and luckily for me, he got up the courage, charming his way into my heart...and as they say, the rest is history ❤️

Not long after we met, love hit us hard. We knew we had found something real and strong. Have you ever met someone and knew with unsettling certainty you wanted to start a family with them? Well that’s how it was with us. After only about 9 months of dating, we decided to rent a house together just down the street from where I grew up. The blessings continued shortly after moving in together with the news we were pregnant with our baby girl. We brought Miss Parker June Mangini into our world the morning of July 18th, 2019 and our love for each other, now as parents, grew even stronger. We then bought a house, which we partially renovated and moved into with our 3 1/2 month old in November 2019. And as if we didn’t do enough in 2019, we both also started new jobs, Josh in home renovations and me as a pediatric nurse practitioner in a neurology department. Then 2020 came and challenged us more than ever. We learned how valuable time with each other is, and that nothing should be taken for granted. We also learned there were things in life we no longer wanted to wait for...

Over the years, after having a baby and buying a house together, of course we talked of marriage often. With the way 2020 was going, we needed some positivity in our lives and decided to go ring shopping this past Fall. After helping piece together the perfect engagement ring, the rest was on him. I EAGERLY awaited the proposal. Finally, one evening when out to dinner with my family, Josh got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I was immediately brought to tears from overwhelming happiness as I said yes to my best friend. For us, 2020 ended with excitement as we began to plan for our future. We cannot wait to celebrate our upcoming marriage with our friends and family!