Every couple has a pretty good story. Some are short and sweet. Some are long and legendary. Ours is a little of everything- adventurous, a little scandalous and somewhat out of the ordinary. But it all started with a friendship and ended up surprising everyone, including us...

When thinking back over our story, there have been some amazing moments of discovery, adventure, surprises and the deepest love that neither of us knew existed. We met at Mercer University in August of 2005. Kat was a crazy little freshman itching to play soccer without an ACL. Kate was an intimidating grad assistant with a long, impressive soccer and academic resume. Kat spent a semester not being able to play soccer because of her terrible knee and partied a little too hard. Kate broke up with a long time college boyfriend and spent a semester figuring out why she moved to middle GA.

The two did not seemingly have a lot in common at first. Little by little, Kat would make Kate look at pictures of her adorable nieces and nephew on Mercer Soccer road trips. Kate would tolerate the short conversations thinking to herself, "What is this girl talking about?" But then Kate started to laugh at Kat's jokes... while Kat tried harder to make Kate laugh.
Kat and Kate began to learn their common interests while frequenting coffee shops (namely the late 'Joshua Cup') talking about their love of soccer, the outdoors, hiking, camping, family and faith. Conversations on the sidelines turned to Bible studies with friends. Pretty soon Kate and Kat were the only members still showing up to the meetings.... Kate kept everything very organized with a study plan, but the two began to talk later into the evenings about life, futures, hopes and dreams.

Kat began to see Kate in a way she had never seen anyone. Kate began to wonder why this girl was always over.
Then the two were kind of just always hanging out for no particular reason. A deep friendship formed and they made plans to do the littlest things together because they just wanted to be around each other. They lined the soccer field together. They went grocery shopping. They ran errands and worked out together. Neither realized what the heck was happening.

Then on Cinco de Drinco, 2006, Kate got a little too tipsy and called Kat instead of an Uber (because those weren't around back then). Kat willingly offered to make sure Kate got in ok... because Kat is always very helpful like that...

Well nothing technically happened that night...

But the next morning Kate realized that the timing was probably was horrific considering the circumstances. Kat realized that her whole life made a lot more sense (while also thinking what Kate was thinking). She realized that the reason she wanted her day to always have Kate in it was because she was falling in love with the smartest, coolest, most athletic and beautiful person she had ever known. A couple days later Kat came over to hang out, per usual. This time Kat moved closer and at some point in the documentary thriller Kat and Kate began their own story with the absolute best and their "last first kiss".

The timing was terrible. It was an absolute secret as both searched their souls for answers and tried to maintain a friendship that started on the sidelines of the soccer field. Kate decided to leave Mercer early and pursued a career in finance in ATL. Then Kate got a job offer in Chicago. Kat was sad but the two figured out long distance. Soon after graduation and a bit of traveling abroad, Kat moved to Chicago. The two coached soccer camps together and had a gay old time at the Chicago Red Stars. Then Kate decided she wanted to become an attorney. So they moved to Milwaukee.

The two found a home amongst the Brewer and Packer folks. As it turns out, those Brewers and Packer's fans have become like family and accepted us into their homes and hearts with open arms.

In summary, it has been a long journey filled with adventure. We have been to Europe, Central America and all around the US together. We have hiked the Grand Canyon and mountains of National Parks. And we've swam in the Mediterranean Sea and sipped wine together in Napa Valley. We have shared in each others' joys, milestones and stood by each others' sides in heartaches and disappointments. We have laughed, cried, argued and overcome. When looking back over the time since that boisterous freshman and that quiet and patient grad assistant first met, it is clear that our story is in fact uniquely ours. But it is also very much ordinary and beautiful like everyone else.

We have done a lot of growing up together and you have been a part of it along the way. You have guided us, counseled us, seen us at our best and worst. You have been there for us in the moments we needed a friend the most. As a result, we cannot wait to have you join us as we celebrate 10 years together, an amazing journey and the start of a new chapter in our lives. Cheers to you, to us and to the celebration of love August 13th, 2016.