"Meeting you was fate, becoming your friend was a choice, but falling in love with you was beyond my control." ~ Unknown

The story of Dan and Joanne, or more affectionately known as dlo and jlo, is as much a typical tale as it is unique. Boy and girl meet in college; they date for a number of years while experiencing through the ebbs and flows of college life, and then finally get engaged. However, the improbable and unique is in the details. Because what is the likelihood that a boy raised in New Jersey by way of Phoenix, would meet a girl from the suburbs of Chicago by way of Miami, who first meet at the University of Illinois with a student population of 40,000, on the third day of her freshman year, while sitting next to her at an event with 1,000 plus people in attendance. Then dating for six years, during which they persevere through the greatest and sometimes hardest of times. The yearning of a long distance relationship, the excitement of many first experiences, the long study hours to keep up with classes, the happiness of graduation and achievement, the anxious job interviews, and watching in amazement as each changed and grew in both their Faith and Character. As with most tales worth telling, the worth of Dan and Joanne's story is in the details.

"Remember today, for it is the beginning of always" ~ Unknown

Our story begins at 1:00am in the bedroom of a 13 year old boy, who after hearing a message earlier in church involving praying for your future wife, looked out the window at the shining stars and pale moon and said a simple prayer, "Dear God, please let my future wife be pretty and please let her be thinking of me now too". In the fall of 2002, Dan and Joanne first met on the campus of The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. It was not love at first sight, however a case could be made that it only took a second meeting and a fleeting thought for them to notice "something" was there. It was the first Friday evening event for the Church they both attended and as fate would have it, of the hundreds in attendance, they were sitting next to each other. At the close of the event, the band played a song that traditionally required neighbors to hold hands. As this was happening, a fleeting thought popped into Dan's head as he glanced over at the cute girl, "What if we end up as "something" and this is the first time we hold hands ... in church of all places!" Quickly dismissing the idea as a distraction to the song at hand, the fact now stands that, that day in Church is the first time where the notion of something more was thought, and comically, that it was the first time Joanne and Dan first "held hands".

"I am just a  [boy] standing in front of a girl, asking [her] to love him" ~ Notting Hill

Over the next year, and only recently did Joanne find out to what extent and methods of Dan's pursuit, he worked extremely hard for her affection. And truth be told, Joanne needed a lot more convincing than could have been reasonably expected, chalk it up to high expectations. For example, finding out the routes Joanne took to and from class so they could have "accidental" meetings. "Studying" together. Taking a class or two that has nothing to do with your major so that you are guaranteed at 50 minutes of quality time and conversation after class. But of course, it goes without saying that Joanne was worth every bit of effort.

"The [couple] that plays together, stays together" ~ Ed Cassidy

 One thing that can be said with certainty is that Dan and Joanne know how to have fun. Singing, dancing, and making each other laugh with not-so spot-on accents is a once-a-day tradition. There are regular competitions at who can make the ugliest face, most annoying sound, and weirdest movement. (I'll leave it up to you to guess who normally emerges victorious). And they will push anyone who can handle it to join in on the competitions. Dan has tried to teach Joanne how to throw, catch, roll, run, spin, and any other motion useful in sports. Joanne has taught Dan how to play the Lord of the Rings theme song on the Recorder. Dan taught Joanne how to do doughnuts with her car and Joanne taught Dan that doing so isn't so great for the car. Joanne taught Dan to enjoy the simple, and Dan does. Dan loves that he can act a fool and she'll watch without judgment. (Although sometimes Joanne watches with a blank stare and goes back to doing what she was doing, although that just motivates Dan to be even more extreme until he gets a reaction).  Joanne loves that he always surprises her by planning dates and special days and loves that he'll do things she likes even when he doesn't want to.  Most of all, they love that each other tries.

"The course of true love never did run smooth" ~ Shakespeare

The day Dan knew he would marry her was the day he realized that he was less of himself without her. The day Joanne knew she would marry him was the day he asked her to. The six-year path that Joanne and Dan have taken hasn't always been easy. They've had to deal with issues of absence, communication, and doubt that while it was hard, it proved that they could work together and endure. They have gone through many milestones of life together, and are excited to go through many more. They've shaped each other's identity and will continually push and support each other as they grow as people. Simply put, they wouldn't be who they are and will become without the other.  As peanut butter goes better with jelly, Joanne and Dan go better, together.

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