It was the fall of 2020. Laura had just been hired at Forest Hills Eastern Middle School. We met for the first time during our professional development week at school. We were both dating other people at the time and began our relationship as friends and colleagues. It wasn’t until the following year that we began dating and quickly fell in love.

On October 21, 2023, Steph and Laura visited the Tunnel of Trees near Cross Village, Michigan. On their way through the tunnel, they stopped at the Woollam Family Nature Preserve. Steph had secretly invited both immediate families to be there as part of the proposal. Steph proposed to Laura at the water’s edge and she said yes. Fast forward to July 12, 2024 when we went hiking at Tahquamenon Falls. On one of our hikes at the lower falls, Steph thought they were geocaching and eagerly found the geocash canister, only to open it up to the message, “Will you marry me?” Surprised, she turned around to find Laura on one knee and she said yes.