Our love story began on a beautiful evening, Sunday, September 17th, 2023. After matching on Bumble the night before and after Lucero experienced some undesirable tacos at a place called "Plaza Mariachi," our first date almost never happened. Alex got stood up and nearly ghosted. He took a chance, decided to be kind and asked for another date the next day. We decided to meet at Burger Up in Franklin, TN—a choice that would change our lives. Dinner was awkward; the language barrier was quite significant when we first started dating (and Lucero ordered a chicken salad at a great burger restaurant). Although we had a pleasant time and moderate conversation, we didn't quite hit it off. Alex, completely winging it and dazzled by how attractive Lucero was, suggested an arcade called Up-Down in East Nashville to salvage the night. We went, we laughed, and we had an incredible time. From the moment we played dance dance revolution that night, we have been a significant part of each other's lives. To this day, we both agree that the other person is the most attractive part of the relationship. We also met during a period of great change in both our lives.

Our love grows stronger every day. We make a great effort to communicate clearly with each other; our different languages and cultures have created an environment of intentionality. Our friends, David and Maria Bullock, were instrumental in mentoring us. They have been married for over 30 years and have shared invaluable insights into how a marriage between two people from different cultures can thrive. We wouldn't be where we are in our relationship without their advice and love, and we can't thank them enough. Lucero and Alex love to rock climb, watch Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Lord of the Rings, play video games, go dancing, make music together, paint, draw, and simply enjoy each other’s company. We don't know where God will take us on this wonderful journey of life, but we are excited to experience it together. Our motto is, "No matter what happens, we can handle it, and whatever we can't control, God can."

The rest of our lives are best spent together.