We met back in the fall of 2005 in southwest Missouri, just before Erin was moving to Chicago to pursue a new career. It was a casual meeting at a friend’s house and some friendly chatter throughout the evening.

Fast forward five months and yes, the internet brought us together again. Corny. But not really.

We spent the next year traveling the 500 miles between us every six to eight weeks and upgraded the minutes on our cell phone plans too many times to count. After dating for one year, Dallas proposed to Erin downtown Chicago on a chilly March evening.

Wedding plans in Chicago became somewhat of a logistical nightmare. Our reception was going to be cotton candy and french fries. But we were blessed beyond our wildest dreams with a trip to Hawaii where Erin’s sister and brother-in-law stood as witnesses at our wedding overlooking a Hawaiian harbor.

Two years later, we are enjoying spending time with each other every day rather than driving 500 miles for a make-out session to see each other.