After being set up by mutual friends, Joe asked Kara out on a first date! They visited the Joslyn Castle in Omaha, NE, and in a feat of incredible strength and manly prowess, Joe climbed a tree.

Kara and Joe went on a few more dates during the Fall of 2020. On one of these occasions, Kara stood in two states, hair blowing in the wind, having her own 'Titanic' moment. Joe, missing social cues, told her she was dressed like Marty McFly from 'Back to the Future'. That was the end of the 'first' set of dates.

For a few years, the two went their separate ways: Kara received her Masters in Nursing Education, Joe played guitar in a few different bands, and was a general nuisance to society. They didn't cross paths again until Summer 2022.

Kara and Joe each began going to Sunday mass at the same Catholic parish in Omaha-- St. Frances Cabrini. Additionally, they continued to see each other at events hosted by their mutual friends, and both remembered how good the dates had been from a few years ago.

Joe asked Kara out for a SECOND time, and she said, "Yeah, I'm open to that...". After about one month of going on dates, Joe asked Kara to be his girlfriend. This time she excitedly said, "yes!"

Over the next year, Kara and Joe went on travels, adventures, dates, and they also learned to love each other in the day-to-day of each other's lives.

While they were at their home parish, St. Frances Cabrini, Joe asked Kara to marry him in the Marian grotto. They later remembered that November 13th was exactly one year since he had asked her out (for the second time), in addition to being the feast of St. Frances Cabrini, patron of their Church.