he's her lobster

"Sometimes what you're looking for comes when you're not looking at all." In the winter of 2016, Eric and Danielle were taking a break from school work in preparation for the spring semester. One night Danielle and (then roommate) Sarah went to their favorite downtown Springfield Piano Bar for a night of fun! Little did they know they would cross paths with Eric. At the end of the night, Danielle tagged along with Sarah to a housewarming get together. They met up with one of Sarah's classmates, Eric. After few minutes of meeting, Danielle and Eric couldn't stop talking. They got to know one another throughout the rest of the night. They exchanged numbers and kept in contact for the next few days and finally decided to go on a first date.

A few months after meeting, Eric asked Danielle to skiing at Snow Creek in Kansas City. They got up early, packed up the Jeep, and headed out for a day of adventures. After they got suited up, they hit the slopes. Danielle had never been skiing before so she started out on the smallest slope. Eric taught her everything he knew. They went up and down the small slope a few times and decided it was time to go up a level. Up the ski lift they went, and that's when things turned for the worst. Danielle did not realize how high they really were. One look down the slope and she knew this was not going to be pretty. After many attempts to ski down the slope, they decided it would be best to slide down the hill. Once they made it to to the bottom, Danielle never went back up. Eric continued to ski after lunch for a few rounds then they decided to pack it up and head back to Springfield to grab dinner before it got too late. "I never realized how terrified I was of heights until that day. While it truly was the worst date ever. It was also the best. Eric showed me how much of a caring (and patient) man he was as he helped me get down the hill. This was the day I knew he was different, a good different. Not many other guys would've kept going out with the girl that had a near mental breakdown on their second real date. But like I said, he was different and that's when i knew I was falling for him" - Danielle

After spending a week in Illinois for Christmas with Danielle's family, Eric asked for their blessing to marry their daughter. Fast forward to New Years Eve.. Eric and Danielle were celebrating with Eric's close friends. Leading up to the surprise proposal, Eric, Best Man Zack, and Nick spent the afternoon after the Cheifs game setting up the perfect stage. Eric was extremely nervous Danielle was going to catch on to the plan. They barely spent any time together the entire night as he snuck away to finish the set up. As if Eric wasn't nervous enough, the rain and wind picked up and blew out all of the candles saying "Marry Me?". Thanks to great friends, The Gumm's, they had battery powered candles to save the day. Meanwhile, Danielle is being distracted by friends by playing games. Finally, the stage was set and the plan was on. Danielle was led upstairs to the back porch "to eat dessert". There she saw the love of her life waiting with candles, flowers, and friends waiting. Eric dropped to his knee and asked "Will you marry me?" Of course she said "Yes!" They spent the rest of the night telling friends and family and celebrating their new engagement! "Although this was the most important question I would ever ask in my life I never questioned once when Danielle and I began talking about our future, and where we would end up-I knew she was the one. Over the last few years we have spent a plethora of time together sharing our goals, dreams, fears and becoming each other's best friend. While we spent plenty of time together it was in the moments apart where I knew I wanted her by myside no matter what I had to do. Danielle came into my life when I least expected but exactly when God planned, and has become my better half. She also fits in with perfect with my crazy dysfunctional group of friends who deserve major props because every single one of them pulled through in one way or another to ensure I could ask the woman of my dreams to be my wife." -Eric