same love. same place. new date.

After Amanda had moved to Kitchener June 2017, she would see Joe in passing at the yard, but never actually talked, somehow they officially got introduced at the company Christmas Party in November 2017. From that moment, Joe was smitten. They had exchanged some casual chatter the week following the party. Joe wanted to go for a drive that Friday night to Niagara Falls to see the Christmas lights but it was late into the evening already so he decided to stay in town. Amanda asked if he wanted some company, so they drove through the streets of Kitchener, Waterloo and Guelph. They talked for hours and stopped in a few key areas to look at Christmas set ups. But Amanda said "It wasn't a date." The next night, Joe still wanted to go to Niagara Falls. After having such a great time the night before, Amanda decided it was worth a shot -- but it still wasn't a date. They drove to Niagara, parked the pick-up, then walked for hours -- talking and getting to know each other. But, it wasn't a date, at least, in Amanda's recount of the night. During their walk, Joe had invited Amanda to spend New Years Eve with him at Jamie and Reg's Farm House. Amanda went the entire month of December unsure of her thoughts and feelings and bailed two days before NYE. Instead, she decided to go to Ottawa and spend New Years with Alyssa and Nichole. Of course, Joe called her at midnight. Amanda was all smiles. At that moment they both knew they wanted to see where things would go. If things were "Meant To Be" then everything would work out in the end.

Thanksgiving weekend of 2018 was busy. We booked my first tattoo for noon on Saturday. After my tattoo, we'd be headed up to Barry's Bay, where Joe's family is from. We made a pit-stop at my grandparents just outside of Oshawa, just a few more faces for Joe to meet and remember. While we were there visiting, Joe was outside with my Dad installing a dash cam into his car. While out there, Joe asked my dad's permission to marry me. I've been told his response was "Hell yeah" Once we were on our way to continue north, Joe asked if I wanted to stop by Uncle Mark's farm that night. I said that I thought it would be too dark by the time we got there. We decided we would go Sunday morning before Thanksgiving Lunch was to be served. We got up early (early for my standards anyway), stopped by all his grandparents graves to say hi, and found Mark's grave as well. After stopping by the cemetary, it was time to go to the farm. This would be Joe's first time on the farm since Mark's passing and his last time setting foot on it all together as it was sold not long ago. He told me he had a surprise for me at the farm -- so many things crossed my mind, I thought maybe it was some special symbol from his childhood growing up on the farm. He asked if I was ready to go see the farm, I responded with "I think the real question here is if YOU are ready to see the farm for the last time." When we arrived on the farm, we climbed the fence and took a walk up the lane way to the barn. He pointed out each building, what each building's purpose was, and usually some sort of memory about that building. As we kept on walking, he called out after me. I walked back to him to give him a hug and the next thing I knew, he was on one knee asking me to marry him. Of course I said YES! Mark's Farm will always hold a special place in my heart, although I have no other memories, simply because Joe asked me to marry him right beside where his own grandparents said "I Do."