Pott. County Couples - Michael & Frankie!

It’s Pottawattamie County Couples Week here on the WIDA blog!  I always say there’s a lot to love about Pott. Co. but apparently, there’s also a lot of love in Pott. Co., too! 

Do you happen to know Michael and Frankie Knudsen?  Frankie is originally from the Oakland area and Michael from Neola. 

Their story is super cute! 

They met walking down the aisle… at their best friends’ wedding!  That’s right!  Frankie and Jackie Akers go way back and it just so happened that Michael and Cody were friends, too.  The couple was paired up to walk down the aisle for the Akers wedding and the moment Michael saw her, he knew he was going to marry her! 

They met in May and had their first date to Longhorn Steak House and the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge in June.  Frankie’s birthday rolled around in December and Michael re-enacted their first date in order to ask her hand in marriage.  It might have been a lot colder and they might have been the only ones crazy enough to be on the bridge at night in December but she said “yes!”  On July 28, 2012, the couple was married in her parents’ backyard with a reception at the Carson Community Center.

Michael knows how to get under Frankie’s skin which drives her crazy.  He knows she hates being corrected and might be a little bit of a procrastinator when it comes to putting things away which drives him kinda loco, but eight and a half years down the road with a house Michael designed and built in Carson, 2 kids, and a dog, they are still a happy couple!  They say their secret to marriage is having a similar sense of humor!  “If you can laugh together through the good and bad, what more do you need?” I sure don’t disagree! 

From what I’ve seen, the couple is a pretty humble couple that sticks together.  In fact, they agreed to host their daughter’s pre-school Valentine’s Day party!  How cute is that? 

I asked them what advice they’d give to a couple considering marriage and got some sound thoughts.   They said to be sure and discuss financial goals and expectations before you get married.  The couple agreed “money talk can make or break a relationship.”  Perhaps my favorite piece of advice they gave though was that you should always be courteous and have good manners with your spouse. Sometimes, our spouses get the worst of us, when they actually deserve the best!  Great words of wisdom, you two!

But at the end of the day, Michael and Frankie are a perfect example of a young couple living the Pott. County lifestyle.  In a state where we believe in “Iowa Nice,” this couple truly fits the bill!

Happy Valentine’s Day Week, Everyone!