April and Joey have known each other for the better part of 20 years and they first met at Tae Kwon Do. Joey was 10 and April was 8. It was at this time that April's Mom made the comment that they could never marry each other because April would have the same first and last name. Well, jokes on you mom because they are doing it!

The path to love was not an easy or straightforward journey. April and Joey were always fond of eachother at Tae Kwon Do but it was not until April's Freshmen year of college in the Fall of 2014 that Joey began the longest courting of the century! April and Joey started to hang out and go on dates, even though April did not think that they were!

This went on consistently until Joey made a move after bringing April to her first Yankees Game! While saying goodbye to April in her parent's driveway, Joey took a leap of faith and kissed April on June 21, 2015. The kiss was terrible and they did not speak to each other for a week. Naturally, the next time that they hung out, April had the grand idea to try the kiss again because it was so bad. Spoiler alert, the second kiss was just as bad.

April and Joey continued on their friendship journey as if nothing had happened. Then, on June 5, 2016, April mustered up the courage and give Joey a quick peck on the cheek while watching a movie! It was all downhill from there and Joey was able to accomplish a feat not many men can lay claim to, Joey was able to dig himself out of the friend zone!

Joey was there to watch April graduate SUNY Oneonta with her Undergraduate degree in Teaching as well as her Master's degree in Literacy Education and April was there to watch Joey graduate the Police Academy and watch him work his way to becoming a Sergeant!

The couple moved into their first apartment together during the pandemic and after 7 long years of dating, 8 including friend dates, Joey popped the question to April in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina on June 28, 2023 in the company of the Maid of Honor and Best Man!

April and I have been renting our apartment together since the Summer of 2020, we would love to make the next jump and purchase our first home together! With the rising interest rates and the increase in the prices of homes, any donation towards making our goal become a reality is appreciated!