07.08.23

Grant and Katie grew up in the same small town in Missouri. Their paths didn't meet until Katie graduated from Smithville High School in 2012. Grant was two years older than Katie. He was a cross country star, a wicked smart student, a talented musician, and a budding young scientist. This led Grant to the University of Missouri-Columbia where he got his Bachelors in Radiological Sciences. Between his sophomore and junior years of college, who re-entered his life? Grant's dear friend DJ. DJ also happened to be Katie's dear friend as well. Now, DJ had been laying the ground work for us to get together for years. Many off hand comments, like, "You know who you should date? ...Grant." or "You know who would think that's funny? ...Grant." So it's a miracle we didn't get together when DJ and Grant first become friends at the beginning of high school. So, 2012. Katie has just graduated high school and is aspiring to be an art student at Truman State University. Katie started receiving some texts from Grant here and there over the summer of 2012. They were funny and flirty, but ultimately she wasn't thinking much would happen since she'd be off to school in a couple months. Grant had a week off between semesters and he came back to Smithville to spend time with friends and family. DJ convinced us to all get together and we spent the night hanging out, making silly jokes, and talking until the wee hours of the morning. We officially started dating the following weekend. The funny thing is, my family thought I was secretly dating DJ for weeks because I would say I was hanging out with them instead of Grant because I was worried what they'd think about me dating someone two years older. Fast forward 11 years later and we are getting married. We've been through a lot together. Long distance during college, Katie studying abroad for 3 months, Grant moving to Wisconsin, Katie joining a year later, COVID, vacationing in the US and internationally, and Grant completing his PhD. We are so lucky to have each other as partners and best friends.