How We Met

Patrick and I met while attending church at Bethel Reformed in Sheldon, Iowa. My mom has been saying for years that I should try meeting some nice guy at church. Thanks Mom, you’re ALWAYS right! Sometimes that knowledge just takes a while to sink in.

Patrick talked to me right away, but waited to ask me out until after I was offered the tenure-track position at Northwestern College in Orange City and it was clear that I was sticking around.

Many people at our church claim to have had a hand in our getting together and nudging us in the right direction. Before he asked me out, Patrick and one or two of his coworkers started a secret mission coded “Oh Henry” to find out if I was single and get my phone number. I’m not sure what the story is behind the candy bar code name. You’ll have to ask Patrick!

Our first date was dinner at the Roadhouse in Orange City, followed by a game or two of cribbage. I don’t remember who won, but it was probably Patrick.

Our Proposal

We got engaged exactly one year after our first date. Patrick took me to one of our favorite spots: Falls Park in Sioux Falls. It was our first out-of-town date location. He got down on one knee with a little box and I said “Yes” before he could get a single word out! When we got back into town, Patrick’s two girls October and Willow presented me with an identical box with a necklace and earrings with green stones that matched my engagement ring and asked me to be their mommy. Tobi even got down on one knee. Of course I said “Yes”!