Joel and I met at Fox Ridge Golf Course in Dike, IA when I was just finishing my sophomore year at UNI (April 2016). I was looking for a fun summer job, had worked at other golf courses in the past and always saw the Fox Ridge billboard on Hwy 20 going back home to Grimes. On one of my first days working, this cute guy came in and sat at the bar, we started talking and getting to know each other as I was the new bartender in town and he was a member so I would be seeing a lot of him, and I for sure did! I would beg Joel to come up on the slow nights just to hang out with me, we clicked right away and became instant friends. I wasn't looking for a relationship so I did what any great wing woman would do...tried to hook him up with my older sister, Nicole. Thank goodness nothing came of that! I realized I like this guy, we got along great, had so much in common and realized he was basically the male version of myself. Joel and I started to golf together more then that lead to grilling at his house one night after work and the rest is history...

I remember the first day I met Tara. I walked into Fox Ridge pro shop with my mom and saw a new face standing behind the bar. Almost immediately I asked Ben, “who’s the new girl?” My mom and I proceeded to talk to a few people and then sat down at the edge of the bar and ordered a couple beers. I introduced myself and my mom, then continued to trade smiles back and forth with the cute blonde girl behind the bar. After that day I continued to find reasons to be going to Fox Ridge more and more. I needed to “practice my putting,” or “work on my short game,” or “was meeting someone else up there.” All the while I was simply finding ways to spend more time with Tara and find out more about her. We grew into each other fairly quick. It didn’t take either of us long to figure out there was a connection between us. We spent some time together for a while a little incognito, but then let the cat out of the bag. “Tara’s friend”, as Rhonda liked to call me for a while, soon was much more than a friend. I fell in love with Tara very soon after smiling at each other from across the bar in Fox Ridge. We have already been through a lot together. We look to each other for laughs, advice, and for support in life. I am forever grateful for Tara getting a job at a little small-town golf course so that we could meet and establish our connection that would turn into forever. I have also learned a lot about what it means to live with a woman and many times simply saying “okay” can be the best route. I look forward to the rest of our lives together and look forward to celebrating with everyone on our big day!

We were playing in an unofficial golf tournament with some other couples that live on the back nine in Dike on 8/9. We were golfing, drinks were flowing, and we were having tons of fun! We were on hole 13 facing the road that goes to our house and I see a car that looks just like my mom's go by...I was suspicious but didn't think anything of it because #1 why would my mom be in town? and #2 it was my sister's birthday. We finish golfing and all the girls head over to the practice green to take a "group picture", once "pictures" were taken, a friend of ours told me to stay in the middle...I was all confused, had no clue what was going on. I finally turned around and see my family, Joel's family and Joel down on one knee asking me to marry him. Easily, the best surprise I've ever had! I'm still in shock Joel managed to pull this off without me even having the slightest clue.