We met in college at Minnesota State University, Mankato in January 2014. We had several classes and group projects together but were merely acquaintances, not quite friends yet. During our last semester of college, sitting in class together, Skyler told me that he won the Elijah Watt Sells award (which means he aced the CPA exam). At the time, I knew nothing about this award, but knew it meant he was one smart cookie. I had already accepted a job at KPMG, an accounting firm in Minneapolis, and began encouraging Skyler to apply to bigger accounting firms as well. Several months later, Skyler had also accepted a job at KPMG and was scheduled to start on the same day as me. As fate would have it, on that first day, we coincidentally rode the same bus to work together. Of all the places to live in the Twin Cities, we only lived a mile apart! During our first year at work, we sat next to each other, literally sharing a cubical! It was during this time that we really got to know one another. In public accounting, you spend a LOT of time with your coworkers (especially during "busy season"). Over time, our connection grew stronger. So much so that our friends at work took notice, and began calling us "Skatie" in private and secretly rooting for us to be together. Although we may have been a little resistant to the idea of this at first, we had a continued desire to spend time with one another. We began doing things together outside of work such as cooking dinner or grabbing beers at a local brewery. It was then we realized our connection was much deeper than coworkers and friends. In November 2015, just under two years after meeting, we agreed to make it official and begin dating. The next two years were full of fun and adventure. We bought a townhouse together in April 2016, went on several cruises and trips, accepted new jobs and imagined what a future would look like together.

It was a warm day in November so Katie and I decided to spend the day outside, exploring downtown Minneapolis, a place we had spent a lot of timing getting to know each other in our time working together at KPMG. We started the day by going to the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, walking through Loring Park, and then up Nicollet Mall. We began to get a little hungry (and thirsty) so we stopped for a beer and appetizers at Hop Cat. After Hop Cat (and several other times), I suggested we walk to the Stone Arch bridge as it would be really cool to see it lit up at night and get a view of the skyline. Because we had already walked so far that day, Katie wasn't exactly going along with it, but I continued to persuade her to walk to the bridge with me. I promised it would be well worth it. As we walked across the bridge, I started to recall when we first met, how my life had a new sense of excitement and purpose since she had been in it, and how I was looking forward to our future together. At that moment, I got down on one knee and asked Katie to spend the rest of her life with me and lucky for me, she said YES! Katie was full of emotions during the proposal, but happier than ever at the thought of forever together. We are enjoying our time as an engaged couple and counting down the days until we get married!