I first met Kevin when he started working full time for DuPont in June 2014. He actually was moving into my old position, so I inevitably had to train him. I found myself caring about how I looked at work on the days I knew I had to meet with him. When we would be in the middle of sessions, I would try to talk about things outside of work, and Kevin would quickly answer and then bring it right back to work. I was like man, this guy is all work and no play! A few months later, I was trying to think of ways to get him to come out with us, and after several weird messages back and forth on Facebook, he gave me his number. I decided to ask him if he wanted to grab a drink and see a movie (Gone Girl), and told him that no one else wanted to see it, when in reality, I hadn't even asked anyone else. He accepted and afterwards, it was an awkward hug goodbye. I thought maybe this guy just wants to be friends. So I figured I'd make one last attempt. There was an Oktoberfest in South Philly the following weekend and I invited him to go out with my friends. After a few drinks, we were walking down the festival streets, we made eye contact and the rest was history!

I first met Stephanie at a happy hour with some friends from work. We were both working for the same company at the time. She was employed full-time and I was working as a co-op while finishing up my undergraduate degree. I remember the first time I saw her, specifically her bright blue eyes and smile. Unfortunately, Steph wasn’t very interested in talking to me the first time we met, most likely due to the fact that my hair cut made me look like one of the Beatles. I tried to think of things to say, but I was intimidated by how gorgeous she was. We did not get much time to talk or interact, but I remember regretting not getting to talk to her more and getting to know her. Thankfully, I decided to take a position with the same company after college and I got the opportunity to get closer to Stephanie. She was moving on from her current position, and I was coming in to fill her spot. Steph was tasked with on-boarding me with the team and company, and I am extremely thankful I was placed on her team! Although she wasn’t the best teacher, Steph was always trying to get to know me on a personal level and get me out of my comfort zone. We spent the first several weeks together training and ate lunch together often. With some encouragement from co-workers, Steph mustered up the courage to ask me out on a date (since I was too nervous to). We went on our first date together in Philadelphia and shared our first kiss on South Street.

Both our families took a trip down to Charleston (my favorite place in the country). Our first day there we went to the beach. Soon after getting there, Kevin asked if I wanted to take a walk down towards the pier. He asked if anyone wanted to join and immediately they shouted NO. I was like ok jeez no need to shout! He brought a bag with him which I also thought was suspicious, so I started to get nervous that maybe it was going to happen and it'd be in front of all these random people. So I kept talking so that he wouldn't have an opportunity and he kept complimenting me on setting the trip up which was unusual. Finally we started to head back and he pulled my beach cover up out of his bag and asked me to put it on. Ok first of all, I already had a shirt on, second of all, it's 90 degrees out, I don't want to put anything heavier on! But I did as I was told. As we got back to the family, he took me over to a heart dug out in the sand filled with rose petals. This was why we went for a walk so our parents could get it all ready! I couldn't tell you the rest of what was said because I was so excited!