Josh and Kyra were actually friends before dating from working together at their college job at Cafe Mexicali. This was one of the post-work shenanigans that Josh, Kyra, and the rest of the cafe crew had. They were in the same friend group and would hang out outside of work occasionally.

Happy Thanksgiving! Before Josh and Kyra were even dating, Kyra knew that Josh didn’t have anywhere to go because his family lived out of town and invited him to her family’s Thanksgiving. Little did Kyra know, Josh was already head over heels and immediately said YES! Thanksgiving Day Josh brought flowers and met Kyra’s family. That afternoon the family decided to play beer darts where Kyra threw a dart right through Josh’s boot and into his foot. You would’ve thought that would’ve scared Josh away… but nope!

One of our first dates!!! Josh took Kyra up to Fort Collins for a Valentine's Day date.

After a couple of “not dates” where Josh would ask Kyra to go do something as friends and she would always find herself sitting on the other side of a restaurant booth from Josh with his card in the receipt book thinking to herself, “I think I got tricked into a date”, Josh finally decided to ask Kyra to go on an official date. He picked her up with a hand full of flowers and took Kyra to the melting pot where the couple automatically clicked and had a great night. A few days after the couple made it official and started dating.

It was Kyra's time to plan a date! She took Josh to his first hockey game. GO EAGLES!

Easter day! What better way to celebrate than Josh teaching Kyra how to start an IV? This was also the first time that Josh met Kyra's parents as her boyfriend.

Surprise! This was the day Josh gave Kyra her promise ring! This picture was taken on the way to Jareds to get it resized.

This picture was taken at UNC's end-of-the-school-year block party. Josh and Kyra were taking in all of the time they had left before Josh shipped out.

Happy Birthday!!! This day marked the day Josh got to meet Kyra's lake family and a lot of her family. Kyra got to return the favor by meeting Josh's parents this night for the first time as well.

Josh graduates college!!! Josh graduated from UNC with a Bachelor's degree in nursing. He hopes to continue this career after his time of service in the Army as an Emergency Room nurse and eventually a flight nurse.

Josh ships out for the Army! The day after Josh graduated with his BSN he left to start his career in the Army. This would be the start of almost 2 years of long distance for Josh and Kyra.

The day has finally come! After 3 months of letters and one 30-minute phone call a week, Kyra flew out to Columbus, GA to watch Josh get promoted to a soldier. This was the first of many milestones of being back together after time apart for the couple in Josh's Army career.

Thankfully, Josh and Kyra had the weekend to hang out and catch up after so many months of limited communication. This photo was taken at a brunch restaurant that was unknowingly Barbie-themed due to the Barbie movie being released that weekend. If you can't tell, Josh was not excited about this but had some encouragement.

More photos from that weekend! This was taken on our last day together for another three months along the Chattahoochee River.

Josh had a tradition of always keeping a vase full of flowers for Kyra when he was in Greeley. As one bouquet died, another would quickly take its place. Josh continues this tradition to this day. Kyra would get random bouquets of flowers with specifically written notes during times apart from each other and when little communication was happening. Flowers were delivered to Kyra from Josh with some help from Josh's mom, Jen, and Kyra's mom, Carrie, during big events or at random moments.

Josh’s birthday!!! Josh spent his 22nd birthday in boot camp with no phone. That did not stop Kyra from writing and sending her nightly letters and the special birthday letter she wrote! He needed something to look forward to, right? Unfortunately, Kyra didn’t know the drill sergeants read the soldiers mail which lead to Josh getting messed with and tortured all day.

THE BIG DAY! This was the first day Josh and Kyra got to see each other again after another long 3 months of letters and once-weekly phone calls. Right after Josh graduated OSUT (a special boot camp that combines boot camp and infantry training) Josh, Kyra, and their families went back to their Airbnb where Josh popped the question! Kyra was very surprised and over the moon excited while Josh was coming down from his nerves.

Another picture from the proposal.

This is the same weekend hanging out at the Airbnb. After this weekend they will be apart for another 6 weeks, but they can have phone communication this time around!

This picture was taken after on e of Josh's Airborne jumps. Kyra and Josh's mom Jen would be lucky enough to get to fly into Georgia early and watch one of his jumps.

After another few weeks, Kyra flew out to Georgia to pin Josh at his Airborne graduation.

The couple spent the weekend together before Kyra flew back home again.

Happy Thanksgiving! Kyra was able to fly out for Thanksgiving to Jacksonville, Florida where Josh was staying with one of his Army friends. This picture was taken on the beach at Margaritaville where the couple would discover their favorite drink, the loaded Landshark.

Just a couple of months later Josh was able to take his winter holiday leave and come visit Kyra in Colorado for a couple of weeks where the couple got to spend the holidays with their families.

As a late birthday gift, Kyra took Josh to Estes Park for a couple of nights for a getaway in the mountains. The couple wandered through downtown, went on a nice dinner date, and, of course, found a brewery.

This picture was taken on Christmas day when Josh and Kyra were in between celebrating with their two families. Josh would leave again to get back to work a couple days later.

After another long couple of months, Kyra was able to fly out to Raleigh, North Carolin where Josh was stationed at the time for a fun weekend. This was the last time they would get to talk to each other before 21 days of 0 communication, yes that means no phones and no letters, while Josh was in an Army event. Kyra would still write Josh letters every night, even if she couldn't send them this time, and Josh still sent money to Kyra's mom to buy her flowers while he was gone.

Back together again! Kyra and Josh's mom flew out to Raleigh to see Josh after a long 3 weeks of no communication. This trip was spent mostly just hanging out at the Airbnb, but don't let that fool you. There were still plenty of shenanigans.

Another picture from that weekend. Just a couple weeks later the couple would do it all over again when Josh went into another event in April for another 3 weeks of no communication.

During this time of no communication, Kyra walked across UNC's graduation stage to receive her diploma before her last summer semester of nursing school. Although the couple still couldn't communicate Kyra got Josh's flowers and continued her daily letters.

Surprise! The day Josh got back from his 3-week event he flew out to Colorado to surprise Kyra. With some help from their families, Kyra walked into her room that night to see Josh sitting on her bed after another long and quiet 21 days! It was the best surprise and they got to spend the weekend with their families in Colorado.

Just a few weeks later, Josh had a long weekend and flew Kyra out to Jacksonville again for a weekend of fun and friends.

Of course, we had to stop at Margaritaville for a loaded Landshark!

A month later, Josh was able to take summer leave for a couple of weeks and come back to Colorado! This picture was taken at the Greeley Stampede rodeo. That weekend Kyra would finally be able to take Josh out to the lake she and her family have been going to every summer for generations to learn all about the boat and hang out with the lake family.

Once Josh got to see Kyra’s happy place, Kyra got to see Josh’s too. The couple drive up to Silverton, Colorado to tent camp on Forth of July weekend with Josh’s family where they did lots of hiking, mountain adventures, and town exploring.

We had to stop and spend a night in Ouray, as well!

This was the last date and the last time Josh and Kyra would get to see each other again for over 3 and a half months. With two weeks gone in the blink of an eye, the couple separated again so Josh could get back to his career.

While Josh was away chasing his dream, Kyra finished nursing school! This picture is of her at her nursing pinning ceremony where she got to celebrate with her and Josh's family. Shortly after this, Josh would start another military event where the couple would go no contact for another 4 weeks and another 4 weeks after that with only communication on the weekends.

Starting this day, the couple went another 4 weeks of no contact. After those four weeks, they would start another 4 weeks after that with only communication on the weekends until the end of October where they will get to see each other again for the first time in over 3 months.

After another 3 months apart the couple gets to see each other again at another army graduation!

This is a picture of us that weekend at an Oktoberfest.

Josh and Kyra finally get the go ahead! They have 10 days to find an apartment and move across the country to Columbus, GA. Talk about some stress! Everything worked out well and the couple even got to stop at a couple cool spots on their road trip east, including the Memphis Bass Pro Shop.

The couple finally got to their apartment and moved in!!! They are now living in Columbus where Josh is continuing his military career and Kyra is job hunting until the new wedding date in February!