While attending Free State High School, Bryce and I met through our mutual friends, Brett and Leanne. During English class, he caught my attention when he and his buddies joked around. But being shy, I didn't share my feelings. After high school, we crossed paths at birthday parties and holiday celebrations. The day I moved to Horton, Kansas, he posted a picture on Instagram, and I messaged him to see how he was doing. A few weeks later, I invited Bryce to dinner with Brett and Leanne at Buffalo Wild Wings. We started the evening with wings and beer and ended the evening with an ultimate Nerf gun war, which is one of my very favorite memories!

On July 4, 2019, Maddie and I spent the day preparing for our annual float trip. Throughout the day, I packed and paced the house trying to find the words to say later that night. Maddie was anxious and excited about the fireworks, and I was eager for sunset. Before leaving the house, I placed the ring box in my sock. After arriving to my work, we switched vehicles, and I parked the bucket truck in the pole yard, harnessed Maddie in and raised us fifty feet in the air to be surrounded by fireworks from all directions. While she was watching the fireworks, I was on one knee pretending to scratch my chiggers as I moved the box up my sock, while shaking the bucket. Uneasily, Maddie said, "Stop scratching your chiggers!" Being nervous while trying to get her attention, I said, "I'm itching for you, baby." My one-liner worked, and she turned around to my marriage proposal to spend the rest of her life with me.