Over the next two years they would cross paths on and off campus. Haleigh even attended a party at Joel’s house (uninvited, of course). It wasn’t until much after when they truly connected. Like all true love stories of the 21st century - theirs began online. One fall night, Haleigh was drinking wine and watching Kesha’s reality show in her apartment when her phone buzzed. It was Joel, sliding into her DMs. He messaged her on Twitter, gave her his phone number, and asked her to text him if she was interested in talking more. After consulting with her roommates, she did. The conversation went a little something like this:
Her: Hey it’s Haleigh!
HIm: Haleigh who?
*crickets*

At this point you’re probably thinking “Typical Joel.” She went back to Twitter and let him know just exactly how funny she thought he was - aka not at all. *Insert her colorful use of language here* He texted her again, assuring her it was just a joke (ha) and they continued to text throughout the night. A couple of weeks later they hung out for the first time, watching movies and eating a dinner Haleigh made. Side note - Haleigh may or may not have locked themselves out of her apartment that first night. Since then, they’ve pretty much been inseparable.

Almost 8 years later they’ve built a beautiful life together. From moving into their first tiny apartment together to renovating their 120-year-old farmhouse and getting a cat to raising four chickens and a puppy - they've never stopped growing together. They’ve traveled to multiple states and countries, more recently living in Savannah, Georgia for six months. While there, they took a weekend trip to Hilton Head, NC. Joel popped the question at the base of the lighthouse overlooking the ocean. Just the two of them, on a random day in November. Perfectly. Now? They’re excited to take the leap and make our love a lifelong commitment (and legal in the eyes of the fine governor of Pennsylvania).