We were introduced thanks to Mike's best friend Keith and Molly's friend Karen (who just happens to be Keith's mom!). We exchanged a few messages back and forth around the holidays, but nothing came of it until a few months later, when Karen suggested Molly reach back out. I did and we arranged to meet for a drink. We hit it off right away and started hanging out every weekend. This was one of our first dates - to Hand of Fate in Petersburg, and our first picture together.

Our birthdays are only a few days apart (July 17 and 21), so that first year we started our tradition of taking birthday trips! This was our first one - to Aeries Winery in Grafton.

In December 2021, we took our first big road trip to Gulf Shores, which will always be a special place for us. We realized that if we can survive 13 hours in a car in pretty much all kinds of weather, we can survive anything!

Mike proposed on December 21, 2024. We had plans to go to the Missouri Botanical Garden for Garden Glow. Mike asked a stranger to take our picture...except instead of leaning in for a photo, he knelt down to propose! I said yes (obviously!), and that exceptionally kind stranger captured the whole thing on video.