Facebook has a free dating app-WHO KNEW?! Thankfully each of us stumbled on that. Both over being single but not having luck on any of the other platforms, why not try something free? In October 2020, Chelsea saw Josh's profile and was IMMEDIATELY drawn to him. She saw his picture and his profile and thought "he could be the one." Josh and Chelsea saw each other on the app and "liked" each other. Chelsea patiently waited for him to reach out to her, and he never did. *eye roll* A few months later, she got back on the app, and thought "I hope that cute red head is still on there." Low and behold, HE WAS! She liked him again, and this time, she was not going to let him get away. Chelsea initiated the conversation and the rest is history. The two chatted for about a month before their first date. Josh came to Omaha and took Chelsea to lunch, for a walk across the pedestrian bridge, a walk and chat at Standing Bear Lake, and then back to Chelsea's for dinner and a movie. It was the longest and best first date either of us had been on. Darkwing Duck was even watched! There was a deep, real conversation, lots of laugher, and even a first kiss. Even though Josh was a little uncomfortable with Chelsea's incessant eye contact at lunch, he knew this was worth it. Both agree that after that first date we knew.

Neither of us wanted to waste time. Both of us in our thirties and not dating to just date. We were dating to marry. Both of us had standards and must haves, and we talked about all of those things very early on. It was important to both of us that we were on the same page before we moved forward. One date night about a month into our relationship, we had dinner and were hanging out at Josh's in Shenandoah. Many conversations were had: fears hashed out, concerns discussed, trials, life - everything was discussed. The grace and acceptance Josh showed me made me fall in love. It was that night that I knew I loved him. Although, being the prideful woman I am, I would wait to say it for him to say it first. :)

I like surprises. Josh thought he would never be able to surprise me with this because he thought I would be able to tell. We had already discussed and knew we were going to get married. I was just...patiently...waiting for this part. It was a Friday night, and we decided to go to dinner. We hadn't been out on a planned date in a while, and I was wanting to dress up. Josh didn't know how to ask me to dress up without giving anything away, but I had texted him that I was going to do my hair and make up which led him to ask if we were going to get nice, and I told him that I wanted to. I suggested a restaurant we had been wanting to try which he had already chosen, and I did not know. Josh and I LOVE looking at the stars. It was a nice night, so he suggested going to look at the stars somewhere which is not uncommon. We got to a country road, and he suggested leaving the headlights on so that other cars could see us if they came upon us. It was when he suggested setting up the camera to take photos that I became suspicious. He turned on the video instead, and I noticed. Josh asked me to dance, and we danced and talked under the stars. Josh was shaking like a leaf. I could feel his heart beating out of his chest. Laying my head on his shoulder, I could not stop smiling because I was starting to feel like "THIS COULD BE IT!" I didn't want to get my hopes up just in case, but then he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. It was so romantic and so us.