any people might wonder how a girl from Kansas met and fell in love with a guy from Missouri. Well, it's kind of a long story, but here it goes:

I met Josh through mutual friends my first semester at the University of Kansas. He was a hard working man who, through his goofiness and charm, stole my heart. I honestly had no idea how much I truly loved him at the time.

Then Josh decided to join the Navy. I was not too fond of this idea, but supported his decision because he was my best friend and I just wanted him to be happy. When he was at boot camp in Chicago, we wrote letters to each other every day. He invited me and my family to his graduation in August 2004, and that is when and where our families first met.

While on the train one day in Chicago, he looked at me with this look in his eyes and said, "When I saw you at my graduation, just sitting there next to my mom, I thought 'That is my future wife'. My eyes were all watery, but after that I could not stop smiling. October came a few months later and my wonderful parents bought me a plan ticket to visit Josh in Chicago for my birthday. I flew out on October 8th (my birthday) and spent the weekend with him. The next day, on October 9th, he proposed to me! We both shared tears then called our families to share the news. I knew at that point that he had my heart and there was no way to get it back.

About six months later, Josh found out he was going to Japan. Our communication with one another would be slim to none.

We both had a lot of growing to do. We spent the next few years apart. Josh was in Japan learning what type of person and life he wanted to live. I was here working and finishing school trying to learn and figure out what I wanted for my future and was trying to find myself again.

My last year in school, Josh and I started e-mailing back and forth. Our feelings for each other seemed as strong or stronger then before.

We plan to continue learning from each other every day to keep our relationship strong and meaningful. We know with all our hearts that if we can make it through everything we have so far and still love each other as much as we do, then our marriage is going to be a success. We are so thankful to have the opportunity to laugh, cry and share every waking moment with each other for the rest of our lives.