Forever and Always

There is no meet-cute here, just a charming farm boy and a patient townie. Their lives intersected at various intervals throughout their K-12 education, thanks to Winona Area Public Schools. The impetus, per se, of their burgeoning romance was a Snapchat Message sent rather forwardly by Lucy. Over the summer of 2017 they began to bond, and in August Stephen extended an invitation for a hike on the Gilles' trails. Lucy ventured to the farm, and was greeted by a sweaty, odiferous 16-year-old, who, dressed in grimy chore clothes, led her along the woodland paths. Stephen maintains that this move was "purely strategic," and set the expectation of what Lucy was signing up for. Lucy's curiosity was piqued by the boy that tucked hawk feathers into his baseball cap and ate his mother's chocolate chip cookies out of a satchel. Come fall, they decided to ditch the homecoming dance to hang out. They procured ice cream and strolled along Lake Winona instead, where Stephen inquired, "So... are we dating?" in a bluster of teenage anxiety. It took Stephen a few months to divulge his Lego collection. Highschool sped by, and soon the pair were to pursue higher education. The mutual agreement was to seek independent universities and use the distance as a barometer for the strength of their relationship. Trial by trial, the two endured, consistently seeking out one another. Lucy graduated in May of 2023, and relocated to Madison to put an end to their spatial separation. By February 2025, Stephen and Lucy lived together for a year and a half and been together for well over seven years. A cottage was booked for a weekend in the snowy forests of southwest Wisconsin, and Stephen stuffed the car with games and books for a cozy few days. He found a scenic hike nearby, and he and Lucy plotted through the trees to an overlook, where he asked her to marry him. Our story is incredibly patient. We have as been as steady as the flow of time; for this, we are quite happy. We find joy in our company, giggling about our cats, and our endless stupidity. We are crafty and prefer the outdoors. We often play board games and embark on physical challenges. My appreciation for our relationship stems not only for Stephen himself- his character, his attitudes, his relentless need to have projects- but also for the reality that we watched each other grow up and learned how to navigate society in the context of each other. As we enter our next phase, please be gentle with us. June 2025 through our wedding will be marked by significant change. We are moving to a new state, finding new jobs, and transitioning into post-graduate education. It is our hope that our wedding in March will serve as necessary relief. We would be thrilled if you were in attendance but understand entirely if you are unable to be present for this milestone with us. Cheers and thank you much for reading, Lucy & Stephen