Kyle and I were only one year apart in the same high school, but we never got the opportunity to get to know each other. Spring of 2017 Kyle returns from his deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan. That summer I was bar tending at the preferred watering hole in Yankton. One evening while I was working, he comes in with friends. He recognizes me. I recognize him. We chat as I get the drink order. Not far into our conversation, he starts talking up his buddy and why I should date HIM! (Kyle will tell you that this was a ploy to find out if I was single ;) ) Soon after he realizes it was HIM that was interested! After several visits back down to the bar, the flirting, persistence, and the good word of a dear family friend got Kyle a date with me!

While on a road trip, we made a stop in Nashville for a couple nights. On the morning of our second day we toured a wedding venue there. Later that day, Kyle wanted to go for a pre-dinner drink and tour about town. We stopped for said drink and then went on a walk downtown to a location that offered us a view of the building we had toured that morning. As I took photos to document our trip, I turned around to find Kyle on ONE KNEE! I had secretly (and publicly) wished for this moment and he caught me by complete surprise!