With a little help from family and friends, DJ and Katie met at an evangelism outreach during Tulip Time in Pella, IA on May 4, 2024 (a.k.a. Star Wars Day). Their first dates were in Atlantic, IA-halfway between Des Moines and Omaha. They saw God leading them closer together when Katie's work mistakenly gave her the wrong week off, so that she was able to join DJ's family at family camp in MO.

Other fun memories include setting up DJ's classroom, going to Adventureland, kayaking, playing Rhemain and other board games, running in a 5k, doing Whole 30, learning to country dance, and spending time with each other's families.

God has been so gracious in leading all the way! On January 17, 2025, DJ asked Katie to marry him with a very sweet ice-skating proposal, and Katie said "Yes, of course!"

After the wedding, DJ and Katie will be living in Windsor Heights, IA. He will continue to work as second grade teacher at Des Moines Christian School, and Katie will be working part-time at MercyOne Hospital as an ultrasound technologist.