Our story has its humble beginnings at the LEA teacher convocation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Katie was there with her coworkers, and one of the nights they decided to get together with one of their former Pastors, and a former teachers who Katie did not know at a Karaoke bar. (Katie actually almost skipped out on this meeting but ended up deciding to go). This former pastor and teacher happened to be Joseph's parents Jill and Nathan. It was from this night that the plotting began.

Katie's coworkers, and Joseph's parents had been trying for almost 3 months to get us to meet organically. Katie would get invited to something Joseph would be at, and then couldn't make it. Joseph would get invited to something Katie was going to be at, and then couldn't make it. It kept going back and forth like that for about 3 months. Finally after the failed efforts, everyone let Joseph and Katie in on the secret and planned a meeting we would both be available at.

On January 15th, of 2023 we met at Concordia Lanes in Staunton, Il. As the night progressed, Katie was slowly moved closer and closer to Joseph, as her coworkers slowly started disappearing to the bar until it was just Joseph and Katie both awkwardly leaning against the side wall, with our audience at the bar watching. We both realized the slight awkwardness with this and were able to laugh it off. Joseph was so taken with how easy it was to talk to Katie, that he actually asked her out on another date, before the first date was even over.

We went on several more dates in the following weeks, and finally on February 25th, Joseph finally got up the courage to ask Katie to officially be his girlfriend.

On Wednesday May 17th sitting in the parking lot of a local restaurant, Katie and Joseph both confessed that they loved each other (Katie likes to remind Joseph that she knew back in March already, and it took him a little bit longer to realize).

Throughout the summer months, Katie and Joseph spent almost every day together. This was made easier by the fact that Joseph was hired as the summer janitor at Katie's school. We had a blast getting to work together, and our love continued to grow.

On Thursday, July 27th, Joseph called Katie in a panic. He was driving back into Staunton with his windows down, and an important receipt that had his credit card information on it had flown out his window, and he needed her to come and help him look for it. Katie being the amazing woman she is dropped everything, and drove over to the parking lot Joseph was in at Concordia Lanes. When Katie arrived, Joseph was frantically looking around, and she hopped out to help. Before she could even start to look, Joseph stopped her, and started a speech that went something like "194 days ago I met you, and you have changed my life..." We both honestly blacked out a little bit and can't remember the rest. It ended with Joseph bended on one knee and Katie saying an emphatic yes!

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