Eight years ago was the first time I actually crossed paths with Mike, better known as the infamous “Whitey”, a baseball player at Adrian College. Although I knew who Mike was, we were more friends through friends during the time - granted I was just a junior in high school and he was more out of my league than I could even imagine. After a few follow requests from “Whitey” while I was away at KSU for college, I started to get more insight that I may have a newfound friend. Every once in a while there would be a friendly message that would pop up from a guy I barely knew. A Drake concert, faster horses, another type of concert...these were all things that Mike had invited me to go to throughout a span of about 6 years. To a guy I barely knew and had only met briefly, I politely rejected his invitations each and every time - until May of 2016. Out of the blue I received a message from Mike who I figured had forgotten I even existed at this point. After briefly catching up, Mike asked me, yet again, if I wanted to attend a Florida Georgia Line concert with him. This time I answered - yes! We decided to meet up that weekend since we had not seen one another for nearly 4 years at this point. We met halfway to attend a Mud Hens game together 3 weeks before the concert. This was our first “official” date and ended with a kiss on the forehead - what a gentleman! A week before the concert it was time for Mike to see the big city - Deshler. As if driving 2 hours through cornfields isn’t difficult enough, Mike spent that day with my family, including my dad who invited Mike to come on our 2 week family vacation in just 1 short month. The FGL concert finally came and it was such a great time, mostly because Mike asked me to be his girlfriend - but the music was good too! Oh, and for vacation - Mike did come with my family to Florida for 17 days straight. One thing I know for sure is that God has blessed me with one patient man - I mean 7 years patient!

When I first met Tori in 2010 I was a sophomore at Adrian College and she was junior in high school. She came to Adrian on a visit and we ended up crossing paths but it wasn't until 2012 that I became curious about who she was (after beating me twice at a game) so I added her on social media. I hadn't really payed much attention to her accounts until 5 or 6 boyfriends later of getting her heart broken. I remember a very emotional tweet one night after a presumed rough night with her, then, boyfriend. I told her to “turn that frown upside down.” A random message here and there were exchanged until a time came that she was single and so was I. I thought to myself that, now is my chance to ask her out on a date. She immediately shut me down. Granted, this happened 3 or 4 times following - until one day in May of 2016 when I asked her to go to a FGL concert. She said YES! My dream finally came true, she said yes to a date. No excuses - yes when is it?? June 17, 2016. Before we went to the concert we agreed to meet in Toledo for a Mud Hens game. I was almost as nervous on that day as I was the day I asked her to marry me. I was sweating, nervous and trying not to make a fool of myself. When I came to visit Deshler for the first time we went out to a party where I met all of her family and friends. To everyones surprise, her dad asked me if I wanted to join their family vacation in a few weeks. I couldn’t say no. I had next to zero experience with toddlers at that point in my life but had a crash course during that vacation; kids everywhere. Kids asking me to throw them in the pool and to carry them... Tori was afraid I wouldn't want to see her again when we returned home from vacation, but to her surprise I couldn’t wait to hang out with everyone again, it was a blast. I am now lucky to soon call those crazy kids my nieces and nephews, and extremely blessed to call Tori my best friend and soon to be wife.

On the cold Saturday morning of November 10th, Mike and I ventured up to East Lansing to watch our favorite football teams battle it out. Thinking that this was just another Saturday for us, we geared up and layered our favorite team colors before entering the Spartan Stadium. With about 12 minutes left in the game Mike was ready to leave and head home (I wasn’t sure if it was because he was too cold or if he was mad that his Spartans were losing). I, on the other hand, did not want to leave in case the Buckeyes got into some trouble. Finally with about 4 minutes to go we exited the game knowing darn well the Buckeyes were coming away with a WIN! While I was just happy that my team beat Mike’s, he had another thing on his mind. While walking back to our car we passed the Red Cedar River, which Mike began to explain the importance and history of the river to me at the time. He mentioned that we should get a photo in front of the river because it is such a beautiful scene. Oddly I thought to myself, “we already took a picture earlier, but okay he loves MSU”. As a random couple walked by us Mike asked the man to take our photo (this guy had no clue what was about to happen!). As Mike turned around he unzipped his jacket and pulled out a RING! At this moment I think Mike lost all ability to function while I just smiled from ear to ear knowing that I was about to get asked to spend the rest of my life with the best person. With a very nervous statement of, “I really don’t know what to say and I am really nervous, but will you marry me?” I answered “YES!” and the couple congratulated us, handed back the phone, and walked off. I had absolutely zero idea that this day would end this way. After attending 24 different weddings together within the 2.5 years we have been together, Mike and I are finally looking forward to celebrating OUR wedding at the first venue we ever attended a wedding together back in 2016!