Joe and I first met at a small get together in Ephrata. Just a week later, we ran into each other again when I offered him a ride home—only to find out he was working for my brother, Cory! That’s when I knew I might be in trouble if I kept talking to him… but what are little sisters for? Of course, I kept talking to him, and we quickly became inseparable.

At the time, I was finishing up college at EWU and living in Cheney, while Joe was in Moses Lake. Like any young couple in love, we made the commute—one way or another—every single night just to be together.

About six months later, Joe was offered a job with the local power company in his hometown of North Bend. I still had three months of student teaching left, but I got lucky and found a placement with a teacher in Issaquah, which allowed us to move together.

We’ve now been living in North Bend for the past four years. Joe is close to becoming a journeyman lineman, and I’m going to be wrapping up my fourth year as a special education teacher in Issaquah.

We’re not sure whose idea it was to move and get married in the same year—let alone the same month—but here we are, heading back to the east side of Washington to begin our married life and start a family. We can’t wait for this next chapter!