We met on Facebook Dating, or at least that's what Rachel thought. While Steph was recovering from a serious car accident, her home nurse had made a dating profile for her. Steph knew nothing about this profile. Sweet Nurse Ann swiped on Rachel and would inform Steph that she had a match. But before Steph was made aware that she was on a dating site, Rachel had messaged Stephany after noticing a mutual friend, her cousin Erin. "Thanks for the add!" Rachel wrote to Steph. Stephany was so confused. What "add"? What dating site? And so it all began! 

After Steph was informed of her new match, they began chatting. Rachel couldn't place it, but she KNEW Steph somehow. After many late night text chats, Rachel slowly began to put the pieces together. Stephany. Gym. Shoes? It was in 2019 when Rachel was a member at Steph's gym in Madison. Rachel had forgotten her shoes! Not wanting to miss a workout, she asked the front desk, "Do you have a lost and found?" Stephany bounced over and inquired, "Whatchya missing? Shoes? Are you trying to use some rando's lost n' found shoes? Eww, gross. You don't know who's feet have been in there. Here, take MINE!" And with that, Steph removed the shoes off her feet and insisted that Rachel borrow them. Rachel shly thanked her, completed her workout, returned the shoes, and later wrote a "Thank You" note to gym, naming Steph as a stand-out employee. And that was it.

...Until that sneaky Nurse Ann matched Steph and Rachel on Facebook dating. They hit it off instantly. You workout? Me too! You've played hockey all your life? I just started! I love dogs! You refer to your dogs as your children? I'm in! You have a kiddo? I love kids! Bad at dancing? Let's dance! 

We were in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, but Rachel went off script and invited Stephany over. As soon as Rachel saw Steph, it was over. Rachel knew that Steph was IT! Stephany wasn't as convinced right away. But it didn't take long for Steph to fall for Rachel and Fossy, the unlikely duo that would steal her heart. 

Fossy and Stephany were buddies from the get-go. Fos had an instant best friend, wrestling buddy, table etiquette coach, and a Big Mom to play catch with. Rachel melts each time she watches her two favorite people on the planet love and grow together. Little Mom, Rachel, grimmaces each time Fos and Big Mom rough house and booty bump one another as they walk home from school together. Add to the mix two pups and a cat, and they had a full house!

During New Years in 2022, Stephany proposed to Rachel in the perfect fashion: a scavenger hunt! Steph wrote notes that led to hidden puzzle pieces at each memorable place they'd grown to love. One puzzle piece was hidden at the place they first met-- in THE shoe at the gym! Rachel raced home with her puzzle pieces and was met by Steph and Fossy. Fos was rocking a shirt that read, "Mommy, say YES!" Rachel indeed said YES!

A few days later Rachel arranged to suprise Steph with a proposal at the spot they first vacationed together: Kohler Spa at Title Town. On a subzero day in Green Bay, Rachel got down on a wobbly knee on the ice rink to propose to a surprised Stephy. While Rachel's hockey skating skills left much to be desired, Stephany obliged and said YES!

Their double proposal was complete. They were now fully engaged after a trip around the sun together. They came home from Green Bay to a livingroom filled with balloons that their siblings Deanna and Brooke had sneakily planted while they were up north. S R F balloons filled the room. Our little family was engaged!