We first met at a Friendsgiving Celebration hosted in Emporia. However, we had heard about each other through our mutual friends beforehand. We talked for a little while but nothing took off right away. We then saw each other again at a Catfish Conference in Little Rock. Again, we talked for a while but still nothing major happened. Things really took of when we both attended a float trip on the Elk River in Missouri. Here we were canoe partners for the day. We talked all day and found out we had a great deal in common. After the trip was over, we went our separate ways. Shortly after we made it back, Katie texted me a picture of our group photo we took. We then began texting each other back and forth until finally at Curtis and Des' wedding, I asked her to be my girlfriend and thankfully she said yes!

Six months into our relationship I knew Katie was the one I wanted to marry, however, I needed to start saving up money to get her a ring. I wasn't able to really start saving until about the spring of 2022. Once I saved up enough money it was time to get the ball rolling so I asked her parents for permission during the 2022 holiday season. We first really started talking on the Elk River, which is a cool and clear river, so I know I wanted that to tie in with my proposal. Thankfully Katie had been wanting to go explore some of the rivers in her district that fit that description. So we planned a fishing trip to the Cossatot River in southwest Arkansas. Due to it being memorial day weekend, there were plenty of people hanging around making it difficult to find the perfect opportunity. Finally, after traveling to the second site and wading a bit upstream I found the opening I was looking for. I pulled the ring out of the fishing bag, came up behind her while she was casting and dropped down on my knee in the middle of the river. Thankfully she said yes. We're so excited to celebrate this next chapter in our lives with you. See you in Hot Springs!