How did we meet?

Kate and Jon met in April 2000 at the University of St. Thomas, where they were both students. Jon was playing baseball for the University and had made friends with the athletic trainer, Nicole (Roy) Faulken, who was Kate's roommate. One night after a game, Jon was icing his shoulder in the training room when Nicole asked him if he would be interested in joining her and her now husband Matt for a double date with her roommate Kate. Jon said, "Sure why not." They went to Old Chicago where Jon and Kate shared a pizza. When the bill came, Kate insisted on paying for her half, but Kate and Jon both only had $20 bills. So, Jon said, "I got it." Kate continued to insist that she pay for her half. Jon concluded the conversation by saying, "I got it. You will just have to buy the next time we go out." Luckily for Jon, Kate called three days later to take him out for ice cream. And the rest is history.

The Engagement

As told by Kate...

As all of you know, Jon and I have been dating a long time. We had discussed marriage, but I was never sure when Jon would pop the question. On April 28th, Jon and I were celebrating five years of dating each other. We decided to kick off the night at Oceanaire, a seafood place in downtown Minneapolis. We had never been there before, and it was a real treat! We both love seafood and for dessert shared a piece of to-die-for turtle cake! It was a great night.

After dinner was over, we got into Jon's car and he told me he wanted to drive over to St. Thomas to the place where we had our first kiss. I thought this was a great idea (at this point I still had no clue he was going to ask me tonight!). We went to UST to the place where we had our first kiss. He gave me another smooch. Then he asked if I wanted to walk around anywhere else at St. Thomas, like the library, Koch Commons, etc. But it was really cold that night and it was around 10 p.m., so I declined his offer (not knowing he was probably trying to buy time). Then he said he wanted to go down by the arches. When we got there, I started reading the prayer to St. Thomas Aquinas on the wall.

Now before I continue, all of those non-Tommies must understand the significance of the arches. If you kiss your boyfriend/girlfriend (who also must be a St. Thomas student) under the arches at midnight you become a "true Tommie." There are no secrets here, Jon and I are true Tommies. :-)

Back to the story...Jon and I were under the arches when before I knew it he was whispering something sweet in my ear. And then he asked me to tell him what my favorite memories were of us dating each other. I thought this was a little odd, as we had covered it at dinner. (And I still didn't know....yes, I still didn't know he was about to do it!). So I told him more of my favorite memories. And then he looked at me and said, "I want this to be your favorite memory." And just like that, he was down on one knee under the arches, asking me to be his wife.

It was like a dream! Jon did such a great job, picking out the ring by himself and just that same week driving to Omaha to ask my parent's permission. He once again surprised and impressed me.