With our competitive spirit, our first major month of interaction was a rowing competition throughout December 2021. While still in many Covid restrictions, it was a fun way to get more fitness in to finish out the year.

We had met as crew by our mutual friends, David and Lauren, during sailing season that spring. Joseph joined elbow room (J122 sailboat) that year for sailing in Milwaukee and Chicago. Amber has sailed since 2012.

Our love for music was a constant connection for us to share. From classical music and symphony, to classics from being in the shop with uncles and dads, we had our first date at the 2 Cellos concert.

Amber knew he was a keeper when he agreed to purchase Haribo gummy bears for the concert!

With Amber's love for travel, a true test for their relationship had to be international travel.

We explored the city on bike, ate our taco limits, made homemade churros, went to the Brass concert, and flew over pyramids in a hot air balloon.

Travel became a key to our calendar schedule. From celebrating Amber's 40th birthday with a month in the Caribbean, taking our niece/nephew to Washington, DC, Kentucky Rock Climbing, a trip along M22 in Michigan, one month in Italy and the final trip to Key West - 2023 was full of fun!

If travel is one way to test our a relationship, purchasing a home that will get two fully built -from scratch- stairs, full kitchen remodel and lots of new drywall was our next big adventure. The Frederick House has been full of help from friends, family as we learned all about 1925/1970 houses.

Who wouldn't want to be proposed to on the top of the Eiffel Tower? We had the opportunity in April to do just that. It was only a warm up proposal as a ring was yet to be procured.

The surprise engagement came in September while wild ginseng hunting along the bluffs of Buffalo County with family (Thank you Beelers!) . Sharing our love for the outdoors, hands in the dirt, celebrating the gifts of the land for harvesting, he asked, she said "yes"