Patrick Schindele can see into the future.

He doesn't claim to be a prophet or to have the systematic precision of the I Ching, but he does tend to have a sixth sense for recognizing important shifts in life before others. One need to look no further than his 2005 chance introduction with Christine Bastian as evidence.

At the time, Chris was a college student looking for work as a waitress, but Pat knew she was something more. In her, Pat saw his future.

That winter was a time of transition at McGoff's Irish Pub in Mankato, where Pat was the general manager. While one owner left and another one moved into position, Pat remained a constant both behind the bar and behind the scenes.

One of the former owner's final responsibilities was to hire one new waitress. Chris, who was back at Minnesota State University after studying abroad in Australia, had experience as a server and was looking for work. She came into the pub hoping to make an impression with the then-owner, but it was Pat who was inspired by her appearance. He was tending to the bar when Christine came in for her interview.

"She came around the corner ... I noticed her eyes right away," Pat recalled.

The two made small talk and Pat kept Chris interested, though he knew full well his boss had hired another waitress 15 minutes earlier. When the time came for Chris to be sent in, the owner told Pat to relay the message that they had already hired another waitress - to send her home and not waste anyone's time.

Pat would have no part of it. He wasn't ready to let Chris out of his sight. He pleaded with the owner to reconsider.

"You never know. The other girl might not work out," Pat asserted. " ... do it for me."

The owner gave in.

"Here's your going away present," he said. And Chris was hired.

Shortly after Chris began her new job, she recognized she and Pat had a "crush chemistry," though she was actually seeing someone else. Eventually, that relationship faded and Chris and Pat began spending more and more time together - both on the clock and after work hours. However, it would be several months and many dates later before Pat confessed he had ulterior motives when Chris was hired at the pub.

Chris wasn't put off by the deception.

"I thought it was romantic and cute," she said.

As it turns out, Pat's foresight for the business was 100 percent accurate and the waitress who was initially hired 15 minutes before Chris did not work out.

Another prediction

While Chris and Pat were still nurturing their relationship as co-workers at McGoff's, they decided to go out after work for a drink. Enjoying the fresh air on the patio at a nearby bar, Mum's the Word, the conversation shifted to the elephant in the room - it was obvious the two were more than friends.

After discussing exactly what that meant, Pat looked into Chris' eyes and revealed a startling admission: "I'm going to marry you some day," he said half jokingly. Of course, Pat knew there was some truth to that statement.

After a few years of courting, spending time doing what the couple loves best — playing softball, going to concerts, walking their dogs Jaba and Darla and simply hanging out with friends — Pat decided to make good on his promise.

Seeing his brother walk down the aisle sparked something inside of him.

"I realized I was old enough and (getting married to Chris) was what I wanted to do," Pat said. "We had a lot of ups and downs together but we matured together, too."

Role reversal

By the time Pat had purchased an engagement ring, Chris had become the prognosticator. Many of her friends had been married and some had even started to have children. That's when Chris said her maternal instincts kicked in and she became angry that her relationship with Pat wasn't advancing quick enough.

Then, after dropping some needling hints, Chris was positive Pat was going to propose.

"I swear I could sniff the ring out," she said.

Pat had planned a trip for the couple to Las Vegas, replete with a grandios proposal. He had hoped to incorporate popping the question into a Cirque du Soleil performance. Unfortunately, it wasn't an expedient enough timeline for Chris.

"I called him out at home," Chris recalled with a hint of regret. "I said: 'You're never going to marry me.'"

Pat excused himself from the argument and left the room for a moment leaving Chris only with the lingering thought that she must have been right. He came back with a ring.

"Really?" "Really?" Chris exclaimed thinking Pat couldn't have been serious.

He wasn't joking.

And she said yes.

Today the couple can laugh about Chris extinguishing Pat's attempt at a sentimental proposal. They're focused instead on the romantic vision they have for their August wedding.

"I'm looking forward to having the day happen and seeing (Pat) see me," Chris said. "When we first see each other - that keeps going over and over again in my mind."

"I can't wait to see (Chris)," Pat said. "And having all of our friends and family there to celebrate us."

Click HERE to view more images from Chris and Pat's engagement session.