Ross' Story: A lot of folks these days meet on an internet dating site and joke about telling people they met somewhere else. Or people meet through friends, or work. We took a more old school approach and met at the good ole fashioned grocery store, after a days work and hitting the gym - so we were dressed in our best (sweats and leggings). It was a cloudy day in May when we met, nothing special until that evening. I (Ross) always park in the same spot because it is always open - wayyyy in the back, which Julia thinks is goofy. It may be, but it led to Julia noticing my car always in the same spot! We must have had the same routine because we were always there at the same time, but kept missing each other. Except that day she saw me park, and wanted to see what I looked like, haha. I got out of the car and saw this really pretty lady walking towards me, and I thought I did something wrong. She asked about my car and why I parked there all the time (trying to make fun of my bullet proof logic) and we just kept talking all the way into the store, eventually exchanging numbers. Next thing you know, she invites me to workout at her gym, smoked me in said workout, and ran off to a wine night with her sisters. We kept talking through the weekend and I asked her out on a date to get some sushi. After she played a little hard to get, we agreed to a date! The date comes along and I am super nervous, but she showed up wearing this green dress that matched her eyes. We had dinner and talked about our dreams and things we wanted to do and we just really connected - it was amazing. We kept talking until the resturaunt kicked us out so they could close! But before we left, we already had our next date lined up, which was crusing down the platte river on a tube with her sister and some friends. I was fired up because that's one of my favorite things to do! So it's July 1st, all of us cruise down the platte, having a blast. When it comes to an end, we all get food at the brewery and the group mentions going to the country bar to go dancing to end the night. Julia is very good at country swing dancing/line dancing - I am not. We did some line dancing back in elementary school, but that's it, so I was nervous as could be. She ended up showing me how to dance and we got out there and had a blast! I took her home and dropped her off, and we have been inseparable since. We went on a few more dates, and she eventually cooked for me, and the rest was history - I knew I was going to marry her. It's crazy how time flies by and how two strangers can fall in love. I was praying everyday to meet a woman like Julia, and there she finally was - I knew pretty quickly, when you meet a girl like that, you don't ever let her go. I don't think she was praying for a small town Indiana fellow like myself, but she couldn't resist that midwestern charm. It took a little time to win her over, but everything that good takes time. We are so excited to be together, build a wonderful life, and have fun on this beautiful journey. If you are still reading lol we are excited to see you on our special day. Thank you to our parents for doing such a great job raising us and being the best parents you can be. Thank you to all of our family and friends - you are so important to us. We love you all!

Julia's Story: From the moment I saw Ross getting out of his jeep in a baseball cap, I remember thinking aw shoot he's cute. When we met on our way into the store, I was surprised how easy the conversation came! Making fun of his parking in the back, learning what he did for work, how he loved to work out and ski, was pretty ambitious in life. For years I had been saying I need to find a city-country boy, a little of both but too much of either. That day, I was so nervous suggesting we grab coffee, but I think I knew God had put an incredible man into my path! I was definitely busy, focused on rebuilding a life after moving back to Colorado from a few years in Seattle. So Ross comes along and is down to earth, works hard, loves his family, and none of it was in my plans! But as we got to know each other more and more, little moments would surprise me like how he remembered tiny things I would say, or run around to make sure to open my car door. By July 4th, we officially went on a date (I was still in denial when we got sushi before lol), got steak and watched the fireworks, and it feels like we've been inseperable since. Within a few weeks, he had met my best friends, came to church with me, laughed with me, challenged me, and learned to keep me well fed. Within a few months, I remember telling my dad I was nervous because I could see myself potentially marrying this guy. His good looks caught my eye, but his incredible mix of sass and heart caught me. Ross was the answers to decades of prayers, bringing "exceedingly, abundantly more than I could ask or think", into my life in a way I never knew was possible. We cannot wait to celebrate with you all, and look forward to sharing our next chapter of life together. Love you all!