Joy met Brett on OKCupid (an online dating website). After only a few days on the website, Joy reached out to Brett. Brett's profile attracted her because he laid out exactly what he we looking for in a partner. Her first message to him was: "Good morning Brett! You seem to know exactly what you are looking for. My love language is quality time. I am a Christian and attend church regularly. I own my home and am financially independent with a stable career. I would like to get to know you better. What do you say?" AND... the rest is history.

Their first "official" date was at The Whining Pig, a small craft beer and wine bar. They talked for two hours over drinks before Joy mentioned she was getting hungry and hadn't eaten since lunch (it was about 8pm). They continued their date at TexAZ TexMex grill next to The Whining Pig. Their conversation continued until she mentioned she had a teacher conference early the next morning. They parted ways. After Joy got home, she called him again to talk more...she just couldn't get enough of him. ;)

For their second date, Brett invited Joy over for dinner and a movie at his house. He cooked her salmon and they watched the movie Office Space.

On their third date, Joy invited Brett over for dinner at her house before she flew to Chicago for 3 weeks to visit her godson Emmett and best friend, Sarah (Bridesmaid). While her fajitas were delicious, her use of corn tortillas instead of flour tortillas was a turn off for Brett. Come to find out, Brett is not a big fan of corn tortillas. She wasn't sure when she was going to see Brett again...

Over the next 3 weeks, while Joy was in Chicago, they talked almost every night getting to know one another. When Joy returned from Chicago, Brett picked her up at the airport. She left just a few hours later to travel to San Diego for her mom's birthday. Brett and Joy continued to talk over the next few days. While in San Diego, Brett invited Joy to attend his family vacation in San Diego in just a few short weeks. It was there that she met his immediate family and they enjoyed their first "mini-vacation" together.

Brett and Joy spoke online and over the phone a bit before scheduling a date to meet at Whining Pig in North Phoenix. However, Joy couldn't wait this long and few days before we were supposed to meet for our first date she asked to meet up randomly for a beer. Brett had a meeting to attend and could only stay for a short time, Joy decided to visit a friend after their meetup ended. After time with her friend, she called Brett back and he invited her to come by the house. 

They say when you know you know, at the age of 36 Brett had been through a lot and knew what he was looking for it just had to arrive. Joy has shown time and time again to be the most reliable, loving, caring, compassionate, thoughtful, responsible, and desireable woman that Brett has ever known and couldn't be happier to be marrying such an amazing woman. There they spoke more and were excited to meetup for their official first date. The couple communicates often and has very similar views on their future... Yes, it has all been discussed, and we are excited to experience our future together.