We're (FINALLY) Getting Married!

The first class we ever had together was Mrs. Miles Level 3 Freshman English. I first noticed Joey in this class and thought he was smart and cute, so I went to the spring musical that he had a part in. The next day in class I spent 49 minutes working up the courage to talk to him. As he walked out of the room, I stopped him and complimented his performance- all I got back was a "thanks" and he walked away. The rest isn't exactly history. I asked him to homecoming sophomore year the day before it was happening- it was more like I asked him to take pictures with me at my house with a bunch of other people. That year we started to hang out with the same group of friends. The next year, he asked me to the homecoming dance on a Friday, to which I famously replied "Maybe! I'll have to check with my friends first," and then made him wait until Monday before I said yes. I’m still getting made fun of for this, more than 6 years later. After the dance, I realized that I wanted something more. We talked for a few months and got to know each other better by hanging out with mutual friends and walking together from classes and after school. On December 21st, 2011, we went on our first date to Christmas at the Zoo. Now, the rest is history.

After we started dating as juniors in high school, we dated the rest of our time at Roncalli. Then, it was off to college- Joey at Notre Dame and me at Valpo! We went into this phase with open hearts and minds. We still loved each other, but we were not going to miss out on the college experience and needed to be independent, especially as we got adjusted to the new environment. So we talked less and saw each other only a few times each semester for the first couple of years. But we were still there for each other in all the important ways and shared many special memories and visits between campuses and school breaks back in Indy. Our junior years started with study abroad adventures with Joey in Puebla, Mexico and me in Granada, Spain. 5 months of only Skype calls and text messages. As hard as it was at times, the reunion in December was so sweet! The future was still unclear as we entered senior year and were unsure of where we would both end up after graduation, but that year we grew closer and hoped that it would work out! Our prayers for guidance were answered in an amazing way after I took a job in Indy and Joey (after months of not knowing and then thinking he would be in Ft. Wayne) ended up at Indy's IU Med School campus. The rest fell into place. Finally being in the same place again was the clarity we both needed to be sure that this was forever.

After celebrating the 6th anniversary of our first date, Joey and I had an amazing week lined up of Christmas cookie baking, homemade dinners, and more. It was going to end with a trip to Christmas at the Zoo on Saturday evening. That morning we hosted a small brunch, where my girlfriends reassured me that he would propose at some point, but that I might have to wait until he got back from Kiawah and went back to school. I was (truthfully) a little disappointed because I was holding out hope that it would happen around Christmas. We cleaned up from brunch and I got frantically ready for this date and nearly screwed up the whole evening by losing my zoo pass (a gift from Joey's mom!). It turned out okay and we walked around the entire zoo, stopping a few times to warm up because it was pretty chilly. As we were about to leave, Joey wanted a picture. I thought that was a great idea and almost asked a couple of strangers to take it, but Joey suggested "this guy". When I turned around, it was his brother! Joey pulled me toward the beautiful gazebo and got down on one knee, asking me to be his wife. I laughed, teared up (no full blown crying, to my surprise), and hugged him. I said yes before he even had a chance to pull out the beautiful ring he had bought. Then, the two of us shared dinner together where it all sank in. I couldn't wait to tell our waitor! I learned that most of my friends and family already knew and kept the secret! I am, of course, most surprised by the fact that my mom knew, told several people, and still managed to keep it from me. But wow, everyone had me fooled! The surprises did not end there though. Joey had planned for close family and friends to gather at his parents' house to celebrate afterward! It was the best day of my life (so far). And we cannot wait to spend the rest of our lives together!