This story began at The Ohio State University when a mutual friend set up Stacey to attend Jason's fraternity semi-formal as his date. Even though Jason dropped Stacey during an attempt to dip her on the dance floor, the two continued to date.

Jason planned their first date to consist of skeeball, mini golf, pizza and Jeni's ice cream. Unfortunately we will never know who won the first game of mini golf ever played, due to the couple's competitive nature Jason would not allow the scores to be added and conveniently "lost" the scorecard.

Jason and Stacey returned to their alma mater, The Ohio State University, for homecoming in October 2015. They were still in a long distance relationship and Jason had promised Stacey she would get her birthday present that weekend, which was a week after her birthday. The couple had planned the entire weekend to spend time with friends, attend the football game, and go to the Columbus Zoo.

On their last day in Columbus they had planned to go to the zoo, Stacey had not yet received her present. After spending the morning walking around the zoo one of Jason's friends, who is an employee of the zoo, approached them and asked if they would like to have lunch with him. During lunch Jason told Stacey that her birthday present was a behind the scene encounter with animals he had arranged through his friend.

Just before the encounter, Stacey's roommate from undergrad appeared and said Jason told her about the surprise and she came to meet the animals. After meeting several animals the zoo employees brought out the final guest, a penguin, which is Stacey's favorite animal. The penguin had a sign and ring tied around its neck which read "Stacey will you marry me?" After Stacey realized the sign did not say "Stacey Happy Birthday" she said YES! Stacey's friend took amazing pictures and videos of the proposal, and Jason had even managed to drive to Syracuse prior to the proposal to ask for Stacey's hand in marriage from her parents.

March 2012: Stacey and Jason began dating while attending The Ohio State University (OSU) in Columbus, OH (Distance: 5 min walk)

May 2012: Jason graduates from OSU and moves to Louisville to pursue his Masters in Sport Administration and Stacey remains in Columbus to finish her undergraduate degree (Distance: 3.5 hour drive or 5 hour bus ride)

May 2013: Stacey graduates from OSU and moves home to Racine, WI to work as an ABA therapist for children with autism and apply to masters of occupational therapy programs while Jason remains in Louisville to finish his Masters (Distance: 8.5 hour drive)

November 2013: Jason graduates with his Masters and moves to Delaware to begin his first job at the University of Delaware athletic department and Stacey remains in WI to work and choose a masters program (Distance: flying)

August 2014: Stacey moves to Utica to pursue her Masters in occupational therapy and Jason continues to work at the University of Delaware (Distance: 5 hour drive)

Summer 2015: Stacey was able to live with Jason in Delaware for her three month clinical

January 2016: Stacey moves to Rochester, NY for a three month clinical (Distance: 6 hour drive)

May 2016: Stacey graduates with her masters and moves to Delaware with Jason to study for her occupational therapy boards exam

August 2016: Stacey and Jason move to Portland, OR to begin new jobs and a new life together. Jason is the compliance and student service coordinator for The University of Portland and Stacey is a pediatric occupational therapist for Neurotherapeutic Pediatric Therapies Inc. Despite the odds Stacey and Jason made a 4 year long distance relationship not only work but allowed it to strengthen their relationship (Distance: NONE)