We met in college, I thought she was really cute. I don't remember actually meeting her but she was friends with the girls who lived across the hall, and we would all hang out from time to time. As time went on Megan and I got closer, texting more frequently and constantly playing each other in 8-ball on our phones (still just friends). Towards the end of my time in Fort Dodge, I knew I had feelings for Megan but was moving to St. Louis for work and didn't want to have the struggle of long distance relationship at the time. That and I really wasn't sure if Megan even liked me back. During the summer I was in St. Louis, Megan ended up flying down to see me for a weekend. I took her to the Arch and we toured a lot of different places downtown. I was even kind enough to take her to Fazolli's for out first "date"... I think it was Fazolli's. I didn't realize it was a date at the time, since I still didn't think Megan liked me as more than a friend. Boy was I wrong! I drove Megan back to the airport at the end of that weekend, and a day later I got a not so very nice call from one of her friends, who was basically telling me that I was an idiot. She told me that Megan flew all the way down to see me and I didn't realize she liked me more than a friend. Fast forward to the following spring, Megan and I were "officially dating" and I moved to Chicago for work. We thought, hey this is great! Instead of the 7 hour drive, now we're only 4-4.5 hours away. Those made for long weekend trips and a lot of money spent at the gas stations along the way. At this point in our story, we found one of our favorite places to visit (Galena) due to the fact it was halfway between where we lived. We spent a couple anniversaries and a few weekend getaways there, and we still strive to get back there as often as we can. Life was good, love was sweet. Then came the start of Covid. Megan was staying with me at my apartment in Buffalo Grove over the duration of her spring break when breaking news was all over social media about the Illinois DOT shutting down all major roads in Illinois. I didn't want her to leave and she didn't want to go, not knowing when we would be able to see each other next was the hardest part. We went 75 days without seeing each other in person. We still texted and face-timed, and Megan also sent a care package with some of my favorite sweets, but it wasn't the same. When restrictions were finally eased up we made the most of all the time we got to spend together. Eventually, Megan told me she wouldn't move to Chicago after she was done with school, so I told here I would move to stay with her and to (soon) end the long distance. I got my job in Davenport in the spring of 2021 and Megan was able to start student teaching in Davenport in the spring of '22. In September of '21 we introduced a fluffy new member to our little family. Knox was the perfect addition to keeping Megan sane the rest of her school year and has been a perfect partner for me at the golf course. In December of '21 we moved into our first apartment together, and since then we have turned it into our home. Megan finished her student teaching and was quickly looking to get a job for the next school year, luckily she was able to land a spot at one of the schools she had student taught at and really enjoyed the other teachers there. I knew the pressure was on to propose after about the 50th "hint" from her about getting married. I had a plan to meet up with some of our really good friends at a sunflower field and pop the question, but of all things it ended up hailing that day. All was not completely lost. Our friends came up to Davenport and we played it off like we were just going to have a very relaxing day of going bowling, pizza and showing them her classroom. To sum it up, I proposed in her classroom and she replied with "It's about time!" We could not be more excited to spend our wedding day with everyone!