An Abridged Version
Spoiler Alert! :) They both transferred to Maryland, they met through friends at the Catholic Student Center, they danced around the idea of dating for a while, they decided to go for it, and they've been together ever since. Kevin proposed at the University of Maryland where they had their first kiss, she said yes, and they are thrilled to be planning their wedding together.
The Full Story
How it All Began
Kevin grew up in Rockville, MD, playing basketball, baseball, football, soccer, you name it. Named "Most Athletic" and "Best All Around" by his classmates, he graduated from Rockville High School in 2007.
Kevin grew up in Rockville, MD, playing basketball, baseball, football, soccer, you name it. Named "Most Athletic" and "Best All Around" by his classmates, he graduated from Rockville High School in 2007.
Across the county, Cathy grew up in Damascus, MD, filling her life with extra-curriculars and leadership roles. She graduated Damascus High School in 2008, Homecoming Queen and "Most School Spirited".
In the fall of 2009, Kevin transferred from Montgomery College to the University of Maryland. With a freshly broken heart and living with strangers, Kevin was introduced to a crowd of rowdy gentlemen at the Catholic Student Center by his best friend, Jake. Meanwhile, a state away at Christopher Newport University in Newport News, VA, Cathy was also having a turbulent semester, trying to decide whether to transfer and leave some of her best friends behind to come back home to Maryland. Because when it rains it pours, she too came to the University of Maryland freshly heartbroken and looking for a new start. As fate would have it, her friend also introduced her to the people at the Catholic Student Center. It was the Spring of 2010, and Cathy and Kevin can't really tell you when first they met. It was most likely during a rousing game of "Around the World" ping pong, a Wednesday Night Dinner, or some other social event. The first time Cathy can really remember the two of them getting acquainted was a game of keep away soccer in the conference room when she did a screaming tackle and jumped on his back to try to get him away from the ball.
Getting to Know Each Other
As Cathy grew closer to Kevin's group of friends, they spent more time around one another. That summer, he was invited to join her friends for "Damascus Days", a parade/fireworks/festival in her hometown. The plan was for him to come down for the day, but he ended up spending the whole weekend with Cathy and her friends, getting to know her and her hometown, and staying up all night long on the front porch talking about love and life. As their friendship grew, Kevin and Cathy were able to move on from their pasts and started to think forward. Cathy had never met a man so caring, easy-going, and selfless, and Kevin was amazed by her enthusiasm and her love of the small things in life.
Back at school in the fall, Kevin decided friendship wasn't enough anymore.
As Cathy grew closer to Kevin's group of friends, they spent more time around one another. That summer, he was invited to join her friends for "Damascus Days", a parade/fireworks/festival in her hometown. The plan was for him to come down for the day, but he ended up spending the whole weekend with Cathy and her friends, getting to know her and her hometown, and staying up all night long on the front porch talking about love and life. As their friendship grew, Kevin and Cathy were able to move on from their pasts and started to think forward. Cathy had never met a man so caring, easy-going, and selfless, and Kevin was amazed by her enthusiasm and her love of the small things in life.
Back at school in the fall, Kevin decided friendship wasn't enough anymore.
To Date...or Not to Date....
One night, alone at the Catholic Student Center, Kevin told Cathy how he felt. Although she responded somewhat apprehensively, he wasn't discouraged. They were going to leave and each go home, but first, he asked her if she would slow dance with him. She was nervous, until he put on an *Nsync song to make her laugh, and they started dancing. They danced to song after song after song, and finally, at 4:30 in the morning he walked her home to her dorm.
On the way, they were joking around and laughing together and he sort of threatened he would kiss her. She tried to call his bluff, but he wasn't bluffing. After that first kiss, they began a seemingly endless period of trying to discern if they were both ready to date again. They didn't want any of their Catholic Student Center friends to find out that they were more than friends, for fear that it would spread like wildfire and they would have to deal with everyone's comments and opinions...but looking back they realize they probably weren't as sneaky as they had hoped at the time.
After going back and forth and back and forth, they decided dating one another wasn't a good idea, but that they would still be good friends.
The next day, grocery shopping together, Kevin and Cathy saw half-pies for sale and started talking about Thanksgiving and Christmas. They both admitted how nice it would be to share the holidays together and with each other's families, but they knew that wasn't going to happen. Then, Cathy stopped to look at the greeting cards for fun and picked up one that had Lady and the Tramp eating spaghetti on the front. The inside said, "Sometimes, you just know." Over a rice-a-roni and perogie dinner when they got home, they decided to go for it. That was November 5th, 2010.
One night, alone at the Catholic Student Center, Kevin told Cathy how he felt. Although she responded somewhat apprehensively, he wasn't discouraged. They were going to leave and each go home, but first, he asked her if she would slow dance with him. She was nervous, until he put on an *Nsync song to make her laugh, and they started dancing. They danced to song after song after song, and finally, at 4:30 in the morning he walked her home to her dorm.
On the way, they were joking around and laughing together and he sort of threatened he would kiss her. She tried to call his bluff, but he wasn't bluffing. After that first kiss, they began a seemingly endless period of trying to discern if they were both ready to date again. They didn't want any of their Catholic Student Center friends to find out that they were more than friends, for fear that it would spread like wildfire and they would have to deal with everyone's comments and opinions...but looking back they realize they probably weren't as sneaky as they had hoped at the time.
After going back and forth and back and forth, they decided dating one another wasn't a good idea, but that they would still be good friends.
The next day, grocery shopping together, Kevin and Cathy saw half-pies for sale and started talking about Thanksgiving and Christmas. They both admitted how nice it would be to share the holidays together and with each other's families, but they knew that wasn't going to happen. Then, Cathy stopped to look at the greeting cards for fun and picked up one that had Lady and the Tramp eating spaghetti on the front. The inside said, "Sometimes, you just know." Over a rice-a-roni and perogie dinner when they got home, they decided to go for it. That was November 5th, 2010.
Falling in Love
It wasn't long until mutual affection grew into real love. The past couple years have been incredible. Cathy and Kevin have been able to grow closer to each other and help one another grow closer to Christ through their relationship. A lot has happened in two years! Kevin graduated from UMD in the winter of 2011 with a bachelors degree in Kinesiology, and now works as a P.E. teacher and coach for multiple sports. Cathy graduated in the spring of 2012 with a bachelors in Family Science and got a job as as a Kindergarten Aide and a high school Youth Minister. There have been ups and downs, as with any relationship, but it became clearer and clearer to each of them as time went by that this person truly was the one, and that the Lord was calling them to spend the rest of their lives together.
It wasn't long until mutual affection grew into real love. The past couple years have been incredible. Cathy and Kevin have been able to grow closer to each other and help one another grow closer to Christ through their relationship. A lot has happened in two years! Kevin graduated from UMD in the winter of 2011 with a bachelors degree in Kinesiology, and now works as a P.E. teacher and coach for multiple sports. Cathy graduated in the spring of 2012 with a bachelors in Family Science and got a job as as a Kindergarten Aide and a high school Youth Minister. There have been ups and downs, as with any relationship, but it became clearer and clearer to each of them as time went by that this person truly was the one, and that the Lord was calling them to spend the rest of their lives together.
As was a motif in their relationship, when it came to the idea of marriage, Kevin was ready a lot sooner than Cathy. Although his confidence in them was inspiring, it was hard, having been wrong about love before, for her to trust in their judgement. After dragging her feet while he waited patiently, she gave herself an ultimatum. She would spend the next month, December of 2012, devoting herself even more fervently in prayer to uncovering the Lord's will for their relationship. It wasn't long before she was able to come to the realization that she had known deep down, all along, that this was the Lord's will for their lives-- and she was ecstatic. There was only one thing left to do...
When Cathy was 12 years old, she had written down a list of all the qualities she hoped for in a husband-- her "dream man." She had folded the list up and sewn it into a tiny stuffed heart and kept it tucked away in her closet for 10 years. Over the years, although curious, she had refrained from opening it, having always planned to read it when she found "the one". Even as she got older and the idea of it all seemed sillier and cheesier, Cathy knew reading that list would signify she was completely sure. Right before Christmas, 2012, she got together with her womb-to-tomb best friend, Maria. Over a bottle of wine they'd been saving for a special occasion they opened the heart and read the list. There were tears, lots of hugs, and a ton of laughs. Naturally, the list was absolutely absurd and ridiculous. Even still, there were so many things on the list that made them think of Cathy and Kevin's relationship, which was both eerie and wonderful at the same time.
On Christmas Day, Cathy gave Kevin the ridiculous embarrassing list, and explained to him what it meant to her. She told him she was ready to say yes, if he was ready to ask, and he said he would get on one knee right that moment if he had a ring already.
When Cathy was 12 years old, she had written down a list of all the qualities she hoped for in a husband-- her "dream man." She had folded the list up and sewn it into a tiny stuffed heart and kept it tucked away in her closet for 10 years. Over the years, although curious, she had refrained from opening it, having always planned to read it when she found "the one". Even as she got older and the idea of it all seemed sillier and cheesier, Cathy knew reading that list would signify she was completely sure. Right before Christmas, 2012, she got together with her womb-to-tomb best friend, Maria. Over a bottle of wine they'd been saving for a special occasion they opened the heart and read the list. There were tears, lots of hugs, and a ton of laughs. Naturally, the list was absolutely absurd and ridiculous. Even still, there were so many things on the list that made them think of Cathy and Kevin's relationship, which was both eerie and wonderful at the same time.
On Christmas Day, Cathy gave Kevin the ridiculous embarrassing list, and explained to him what it meant to her. She told him she was ready to say yes, if he was ready to ask, and he said he would get on one knee right that moment if he had a ring already.
Popping the Question
It should have been suspicious that Kevin stopped talking about ring shopping and asking questions about styles and stones... but instead, it made Cathy worry that he was putting it all off for a later time. So when they were planning a weekend away with friends skiing in Deep Creek, MD, she didn't expect a thing. In fact, she told her mom and her best friend that she really wished they were getting engaged this weekend, but she knew it wasn't going to happen.
Meanwhile, Kevin, had begun shopping for a ring soon after Christmas. He had to wait patiently as the ring was ordered and finished. He felt confident in keeping Cathy unaware of what was happening, and it wasn't until he went and picked up the ring that he became nervous. He picked up the ring the Monday before their trip to Deep Creek. From that point on, he was anxiously awaiting the moment when he could "get rid of it." He had thought about how he would ask Cathy for months, but he didn't have his plan completely set. Many plans he made kept coming back to where they had their first kiss in September of 2010, but he didn't know how he could get her to College Park without her suspecting a thing.
Finally, on the day they were leaving for Deep Creek, he knew it was time. They were driving down with Maria, Cathy's best friend, and her boyfriend and good friend of theirs, Ricky. Cathy, Maria, and Ricky picked Kevin up from coaching a basketball game with the car packed and ready to head on their way. Since he had been coaching, Kevin was wearing a suit, and Cathy kept commenting on the fact that he would be uncomfortable if he kept it on, even tugging at his tie to loosen it for him as he was driving, but he firmly told her he wanted to leave it on. That should have been suspicious enough, but Cathy was oblivious-- even when Kevin said he wanted to take a quick detour, and non-chalantly asked the group if that would be okay. The other two were in on it, of course, and responded with equal non-chalance, and it wasn't until he insisted she wear a blindfold that Cathy finally found herself harboring suspicions. But, reminding herself it definitely wasn't going to happen this weekend, she was able to quell any expectations.
It should have been suspicious that Kevin stopped talking about ring shopping and asking questions about styles and stones... but instead, it made Cathy worry that he was putting it all off for a later time. So when they were planning a weekend away with friends skiing in Deep Creek, MD, she didn't expect a thing. In fact, she told her mom and her best friend that she really wished they were getting engaged this weekend, but she knew it wasn't going to happen.
Meanwhile, Kevin, had begun shopping for a ring soon after Christmas. He had to wait patiently as the ring was ordered and finished. He felt confident in keeping Cathy unaware of what was happening, and it wasn't until he went and picked up the ring that he became nervous. He picked up the ring the Monday before their trip to Deep Creek. From that point on, he was anxiously awaiting the moment when he could "get rid of it." He had thought about how he would ask Cathy for months, but he didn't have his plan completely set. Many plans he made kept coming back to where they had their first kiss in September of 2010, but he didn't know how he could get her to College Park without her suspecting a thing.
Finally, on the day they were leaving for Deep Creek, he knew it was time. They were driving down with Maria, Cathy's best friend, and her boyfriend and good friend of theirs, Ricky. Cathy, Maria, and Ricky picked Kevin up from coaching a basketball game with the car packed and ready to head on their way. Since he had been coaching, Kevin was wearing a suit, and Cathy kept commenting on the fact that he would be uncomfortable if he kept it on, even tugging at his tie to loosen it for him as he was driving, but he firmly told her he wanted to leave it on. That should have been suspicious enough, but Cathy was oblivious-- even when Kevin said he wanted to take a quick detour, and non-chalantly asked the group if that would be okay. The other two were in on it, of course, and responded with equal non-chalance, and it wasn't until he insisted she wear a blindfold that Cathy finally found herself harboring suspicions. But, reminding herself it definitely wasn't going to happen this weekend, she was able to quell any expectations.
When the car came to a stop, she had no idea where they were. It was dark and quiet, and Cathy was freaking out a little as Maria led her along a path. Kevin, meanwhile, was extremely nervous and felt like he wasn't going to say everything he wanted to say. He walked ahead to prepare himself and to keep Cathy from knowing exactly what was going on. When she caught up and Kevin was in place, they removed her blindfold. They were standing on campus at the University of Maryland, where they'd had their first kiss. Kevin got down on one knee and told her how much he loved her, that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her, and then he asked her if she would marry him. There is some descrepency in the story at this point, because through the tears and nodding, Kevin swears she never really said "yes," but let's just say her response was obvious. She jumped into his arms and then finally after much crying and hugging, he reminded her about the ring, which she had totally forgotten about in the excitement. It was gorgeous, and she assured him it was absolutely perfect.
They spent the rest of the night in a whirlwind: calling friends and family on their way to Deep Creek, almost running out of gas in the middle of nowhere, being pulled over by the cops for a faulty headlight (they got out of a ticket after Cathy showed the officer her ring and explained they had just gotten engaged), and finally arriving at the rental home and surprising everyone there with the news!
They spent the rest of the night in a whirlwind: calling friends and family on their way to Deep Creek, almost running out of gas in the middle of nowhere, being pulled over by the cops for a faulty headlight (they got out of a ticket after Cathy showed the officer her ring and explained they had just gotten engaged), and finally arriving at the rental home and surprising everyone there with the news!
The Engagement
Since getting engaged, Kevin and Cathy have enjoyed every moment of planning their happily ever after. They thank the Lord for bringing them together each and every day, and cannot wait to be a witness to friends and family of the Lord's great work through their wedding.