CHRISTA'S VERSION

I met Michael in December 2013, at a Christmas party hosted by our mutual friend, Joe Stauffenberg. At the time, I was in another relationship with a friend of Michael and Joe’s from high school. Lucky for Michael, in mid-January, that relationship came to an end and I was single once again. Another party in February for Joe’s birthday found me in Michael’s company for a second time. After chatting for a while and finding out I was newly single, he asked me for my cell phone number. For a month or so, Michael and I chatted non-stop via text message. I really liked him – he was funny, sweet, charming, and smart – but something came over me and I decided to “friendzone” him despite having feelings for him. This definitely caused a lot of upset, on his end especially, and we ended up not talking for months. We saw each other a couple of times over the summer, but nothing really came of those encounters other than a “hi” and “bye.” Then, in November 2014, at another party hosted by Joe, we reconnected. We found ourselves sitting on Joe’s basement sofa talking for hours. After that night, Michael and I talked all day, every day and decided we were going to spend New Year’s Eve with each other (at Joe’s house, of course!). When the ball dropped and the clock struck midnight, ringing in 2015, I turned around and Michael kissed me; and from that moment on, I knew I never wanted another New Year’s kiss but him. A few days later, on January 3, 2015, Michael asked me to be his girlfriend and the rest is history. After dating for a little over 7 years, Michael got down on one knee at Hawk Falls, my favorite scenic spot in the Poconos, on February 19, 2022, and asked me to be his wife. Of course, it was the easiest “YES!” of my life. Now, we have a furbaby named Stanley (who is incredibly special to us because he was born on the day Michael and I got engaged), a house, and are planning our dream wedding and future. Michael is truly my best friend and I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with him!

MICHAEL'S VERSION

When I first met Christa I was in disbelief that one of my friends was actually able to get a girl to talk to him let alone one so beautiful. We were at a party in our friend Joe’s basement and she walked down the steps and into my life forever. She came down in a blue top, white converse, jeans with a rip in the knee, and my favorite pair of glasses. Throughout the night I was being my normal goofy self and entertaining everyone at the party and things were going great. Once the party ended, everyone went home and shortly thereafter her and my friend broke up. Fast forward a few months to the next party and I decided to ask Christa for her number. Other than my number, it’s the only one I have committed to memory! We talked every day starting with a “good morning :)” text. Little did I know, this was bothersome to her. After a few months of chatting, she decided to tell me her parents took her phone away and she couldn’t text me for a week. Things fizzled out from there. Off and on we saw each other as our circles were closely overlapping, always exchanging pleasantries but no ill will, even though I secretly thought she was the most beautiful person I’ve ever seen. Then one party, once again in Joe’s basement (THANKS ALLISON!!!!) we found ourselves talking and talking all night. Ever since then we have texted every day for the next 7 years. New Year’s Eve 2014 came along and I offered to drive her to Joe’s house while secretly plotting to make her my New Year’s kiss. When the clock struck midnight I turned and gave her a kiss then ran off to celebrate with friends. Three days later I asked her to be my girlfriend, and was her most liked pic on Instagram for 6 full years!! On February 19th, 2022 I asked her to marry me and once again reclaimed my spot as her most liked pic on her Instagram! Take that Stanley. We have a great life and an awesome relationship and I am always looking forward to the next chapter because I know if it is with Christa, it’s going to be the best it could be.