It was the beginning of the Spring semester of Kathryn's freshman year of college as she was just finishing up lunch with one of her new friends at the campus restaurant. The two were walking out to go back to their respective dorms to do laundry and finish homework assignments as her friend recognized a group of people she knew preparing for an upcoming hockey game, one of which happened to be Michael. Kathryn did not pay much attention to this group, but Michael noticed her right away and immediately texted their mutual friend to ask about her. With their busy schedules, the two did not end up actually meeting in person until weeks later when their friends conspired together to have them meet in the dining hall for a group lunch. Feeling ambushed, Michael barely uttered two words to Kathryn during the entirety of their first meeting, but she decided to give him another chance after their mutual friend intervened. They began to hang out and bond over their shared interest in The Walking Dead. Their first official date was in March at a local Chinese restaurant, and the rest is history...

After over five years of dating, most of which was long distance, Kathryn and Michael went on a trip to Washington State to visit one of Michael's lifelong friends and to explore the West Coast. Toward the end of the trip, Michael and Kathryn decided to go on a day excursion to North Cascades National Park. The Park is home to Lake Diablo, a glacier-fed lake that gleams the most effervescent turquoise blue in the sunlight. After seeing it on the map, the pair decided that the Lake was a must-see. While driving through the natural beauty of the Cascades, Michael and Kathryn were finally approaching the Lake Diablo Overlook, which to their dismay, happened to be closed for construction that day. Quickly thinking of a plan B, the two decided to try to drive down to the campground area surrounding the Lake where they spotted a beach and some hikers. As they got down to the beach, Michael suggested they take a picture together, and insisted that they venture to the area of the beach that was currently unoccupied. The only way to get there was for the two to take off their socks and shoes, and wade calf-deep in the freezing Lake, but they were up for a little adventure. Once on the other side, Michael got down on one knee and asked Kathryn to marry him. She excitedly replied, "Of course!", and the two were officially engaged.