Joe and I went on our first date on November 25, 2017. Like I have mentioned, I pretty much knew right away that I wanted to spend my life knowing and loving this man. For Joe, it took a little longer. But he came around (obviously). By January we were discussing the possibility of marriage. Seems crazy now, seeing as we had been together for two months. But that didn't stop us. Everything about our relationship felt divinely appointed from the beginning.

By February, the opportunity to move to Independence had presented itself. I was working multiple part-time jobs, in the middle of my third semester of grad school, and living in my very generous friend's basement. I had never considered the idea of moving out of Iowa. Iowa was home. It was where I grew up, and where I always pictured raising my family. But it's funny... plans change. As we considered this opportunity, God opened the door for me to move. It just made sense to take the leap of faith. But man, was it hard. There were a lot of things that didn't go the way we planned or the way we thought they would... but as the saying goes, God works in mysterious ways.

Joe and I spent a few weekends looking at rental houses around Independence and eventually settled on one that seemed like a great fit. On March 3, 2018, with the help of a LOT of amazing friends and family, I moved to Missouri. It was surreal, living in that rental house alone. I missed my family, my friends, my church. It was so hard to move away from everything I had ever known to a place where I knew no one. And the transition from small-town Iowa to a Kansas City suburb was no walk in the park. Talk about shock! Joe was very gracious with me in those months where I missed home so much... it took some time for Independence to become home. But Joe has always been gracious and patient with me. Let's be honest. I'm a lot. He'd have to be or we'd never last!

After I moved, we spent many evenings hanging out, playing games, and watching shows and movies. As hard as it was to move away from home, it was incredible seeing Joe so often. Instead of saying goodbye for a week or two, we would say goodbye at the end of the night, knowing we'd see each other again the next day. Going from "distance" (as much distance as 2.5 hours is) to living in the same city was an incredible blessing, and solidified my desire to spend the rest of my life knowing and loving Joe.

Now, we're 4 years in, and there have definitely been some bumps in the road and some rough patches. But I wouldn't trade any of it, because it's brought me here, to this time and this place with this man. God is good.