High School |
While Katie and I went to the same high school, were only a grade apart, and even lived just 5 minutes away from each other, we never officially met until Katie's senior year. Katie always knew me as "that crazy kid who wore diapers to school" and I knew Katie as "that cute girl with the scary brother, sister, and dad".
Like any good millennial couple, we first started talking over Twitter; after a week or two, I finally gained the courage to ask Katie on a "date" to volunteer at an after-school program. Somehow Katie said yes, and so began a year of letter-writing, moon-howling, interrupting Katie's quilting classes, and sharing car rides back and forth to school. |
Long Distance |
Amidst many tears and fears, Katie started college at Bethel in 2012 and Josh started a hectic senior year of high school. Even though Katie was farther away and surrounded by hot, friendly boys, we remained the best of friends.
I finally graduated high school and asked Katie to be my official girlfriend 3 days later. The summer of 2013 came straight out of a movie complete with stargazing, laughs, adventures, and a first kiss in the middle of an empty football field in Arizona. As summer ended, Katie and I looked forward to being closer for the school year, She went back to Bethel as a big sophomore and I did a ministry and leadership program in Minneapolis, on the other side of the cities. Only a stretch of I-694 separated Katie and I, but we saw each other less than ever. A tough year for our relationship ensued, but we came out on the other side much more able to communicate and love each other sacrificially. Forever afraid of commitment, I spent the next year in Rochester at the community college while Katie kicked junior year's butt at Bethel. Despite my lack of committing to a college, I did want to commit to Katie and I began pooling all my bartending tips to buy Katie a ring. I finally picked it out like a kid on Christmas morning and invited Katie to come "camping with friends". Apparently she saw through my plan right away, but on May 1st 2015 we packed our gear, bought lots of marshmallows, and drove to Taylor's Falls, MN. There we went on a scavenger hunt arranged by our lovely friends and ended up on a high cliff overlooking the mighty St. Croix. After a prayer time and a heart to heart talk, I clumsily stumbled on one knee and said the scariest words I've ever said. Katie tearily agreed to spend the rest of her life with me, and we hiked back down to the campground below where our family and the best friends we have waited to celebrate with us. Now, almost a year later, I am in my first year at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and Katie is finishing her last year at Bethel. We have never lived so far apart, but by God's grace, and an endless amount of 9 hour bus rides, we see each other at least once a month. I've been struck lately by the way we look at time. It seems to me there are two types of time: fast, and slow. Fast time is Christmas and spring breaks and the weekends in between that I get to spend with Katie. We cherish being together, but the thought always looms over our head that one of us will have to leave. Time always goes so fast and when Sunday. the inevitable end comes, it's never a happy day. Slow time is just the opposite, it's the normal, mundane routine, without Katie, and without promise of something at the end. We are so looking forward to marriage when our slow time is time spent together, and our fast time doesn't end in a goodbye. So that's basically our life! If you wanted to see some random facts about us, here you go: 1. We love dancing. 2. Katie is a great cook, and we both love crazy food, so come to our apartment in Chicago anytime for a party. 3. Mornings together are something we're looking forward to spending together. We love coffee and soaking in the morning sunshine. 4. We are die-hard Minnesota fans and would love to move back someday. 5. Katie and I both love taking pictures and drawing, but she's much better than I! 6. We still don't know where our honeymoon will be; we're terrible planners. 7. We'll try to eat healthy, but we're both too obsessed with chocolate chip cookies... *Written by Josh |