Mark and Jen started working at Microsoft’s Technical Support Group (TSG) around the same time in March of 2005. However, it wasn’t really until October of 2007 that Mark realized he had a crush on Jen. He asked her out in November of that year, but Jen wasn’t really into any kind of social dating.
However, Mark persevered and called her Dad to get Jen’s parent’s blessing for the relationship. This started a process of Mark and Jen getting to know one another and each other’s families. In June of 2008, they started a courtship with both families cheering them on.
On Christmas Day 2008, on the first White Christmas any of us can remember ever in Seattle, Mark knelt down on a snowy dock next to Lake Washington in Kenmore asking Jen to marry him. She said yes, and he gave her a beautiful Opal and Diamond Ring!