RJ - We first met each other at the University of Delaware, where we were both Sophomores at the time. I got on the UD shuttle bus, which Chelsi was already on with some friends. I broke the ice and struck up a conversation with her. After getting off the bus, I went to the library and Chelsi and her friends went to the dining hall. I didn't get her number though, because as you all know, I can be a bit shy! ;) Luckily for me, we ending up both going to take a History of Rock exam at the same testing center on campus, where Chelsi asked ME for MY number! I ended up asking her out on a date to our favorite restaurant, Ramen Kumamoto, and from then on we were dating and had many fun times together :)

RJ - After dating for three years and with graduation day swiftly approaching, Chelsi and I discussed and decided to move in together after college. We found a nice apartment, with a not so nice amount of stairs, on the top floor of a beautiful historic building in Wilmington, Delaware. We ended up living together at our apartment for three years together and after not killing each other while stuck inside during the COVID-19 pandemic, we decided to find a longer-term living situation.

RJ - Before moving out of our apartment together, I had one more thing to take care of :). After realizing how much I love Chelsi and after many hints by her, I decided to buy a certain ring-shaped symbol of sharing our lives together forever. My Mom and Grandmom came with me to pick out Chelsi's ring, a memory I will cherish forever. After buying Chelsi's ring, it was up to me to decide how to propose. I ended up taking her out to lunch at Ramen Kumamoto, the restaurant where we had our first date. She specifically requested that I don't propose to her "in front of a billion people." So, after finishing our meal in our favorite small restaurant, I took her for a walk around campus. I proposed to her at the fork in the walking path, with one way leading to the Dining Hall and the other leading to the Library. The same exact fork where we parted ways after first meeting each other on the shuttle bus. I got down on one knee and said something cheesy, like "I never want to part ways again." I then proceeded to open the ring box upside down. Amazingly, this beautiful, kind, intelligent woman said yes and we've been planning our wedding ever since :)

RJ - After our huge life-event of getting engaged, Chelsi and I decided to double-down and purchase a house. The mysterious, cyclical nature of life ended up placing us in a newly-built townhouse directly across the street from Saint Leo the Great Elementary school and five minutes away from the house I grew up in. While moving and settling in, I got hit with the tech-layoff wave. So, while moving in, planning a wedding, and searching for a job, Chelsi and I decided to adopt a puppy while we were at it. The beautiful fur-baby we decided on was Ripley, an American Village Dog from the Caribbean Islands. The two of us got through all of these challenges and are closer together than ever. Our next challenge will be out-dancing all of you at our wedding :)