It all started July 10, 2021 at our mutual friend, Emily's wedding. Becca was a bridesmaid & Colton was one of very few single guys at the wedding. After being encouraged to dance together, we hit it off! Colton decided to ask for my number & eventually text me the next morning despite me being from Illinois.

With all of my summer travel plans, Colton had to wait over a month to see me again after the wedding. Because of the distance, we didn't do just dinner dates or couple hour dates, we did weekend visits which might seem crazy to some (or most). We put a lot of miles on our cars with trips back and forth over the Wisconsin/Illinois border while at the same time we totally fell in love & knew this was it.

The 3 hour drive was getting to be a lot & we wanted to put an end to the distance. After 2 years, I left my teaching job in Illinois & decided to move north the summer of 2023. I accepted a teaching job at Kickapoo & we bought a house in Viola (now I really do live in a small town)! It was huge going from only seeing each other for a few days at a time to now living together, such a great change for our relationship.

Fast forward to December 23rd, Colton & I were having our first Christmas in our first home just the two of us. We were in our matching Christmas pajamas & just finished opening gifts. I gave the dogs their new toys & Colton pulls me down on his lap. As he's holding my hand, he gets up and goes down on one knee. He didn't get everything out that he had planned through the tears, but it was absolutely a YES!