We're getting married!

We met on a trip with the Mizzou Newman Center in Phoenix, Arizona. John sat next to Katie at lunch, and after a quick story of how Katie's dad's car got stolen, the rest is history.

Early on in our relationship, we realized we had something truly special and decided to take a risk on a long-distance relationship. We knew more would be in store as John completed training and received orders to a submarine. FaceTiming every night, for multiple hours each night, our relationship and love for each other kept growing. Guided by our faith, trust in each other, and love, we felt called to consider marriage and become a family.

John had been sent to South Carolina for training to be a nuclear engineer for the Navy. Katie came to visit, a lot. Upon her last visit, she had finished school with her master's degree and he had just completed his training. Trying to keep the proposal a secret, we ventured to a few locations in Charleston, SC that could have suggested a proposal was coming. However, John surprised Katie at a beautiful botanical garden on a romantic white bridge, complete with the photographer ready and waiting for an "impromptu" (but totally planned) engagement photo shoot!