Its a tale as old as time. Time traveler meets scarecrow at pub trivia, time traveler asks scarecrow out three months later. Scarecrow says Maybe. Time traveler is scared but is persistent. Scarecrow finally says yes. Scarecrow and time traveler live happily ever after.


After meeting very briefly at a Halloween trivia night at Macallans Pub in Brea (after a friend of the groom invited the bride), Raymon ended up across the table from Amanda at another round of Monday night trivia on December 11, 2023. Over the course of that evening, Amanda became increasingly confused and intrigued by Raymon’s eclectic movie taste and alluring mustache. Meanwhile, Raymon was quickly enamored by her beauty, intelligence, kindness, social presence, and incredibly attractive appreciation for Napoleon Dynamite. By the end of the night, Raymon knew he wanted to ask her out, but knew it wasn’t the right time. All Amanda knew was that she should probably rewatch I’m Thinking of Ending Things because she apparently missed every meaningful part of that movie.


After a few months (and after secretly falling in love with her) Raymon worked up the nerve to pull Amanda away from her roommates as they left Monday night trivia and nervously stumbled through a “Could I take you to dinner sometime?”A few weeks later, on March 2nd, they had their first date; mini golf, sushi, and a trip to Arvida Bookstore in Old Town Tustin.


That first date felt like walking into a movie theater after missing the first 10 minutes, into a story that had already started. God had begun His plans for their life together, and they couldnt deny its divine source. It was on that night where the Lord made it clear to Raymon that Amanda was the woman he was going to marry. When Amanda got home, she opened her journal and began an entry that started “I just went on a date with the sweetest boy I have ever met.” And they were off!


Amanda and Raymon immediately began adventuring! Hammocking in the mountains, road trips to Montana, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, and a trip to Alaska. They discovered their shared love for trees, Indian food, thrift stores, taking cool pictures next to cool things, so-bad-its-good movies, board games, sweaters (which the two consistently steal from each others closets), and racing each other on the NYT crosswords (Admittedly, Raymon wins most of the time, but only when Amanda says that the answers were dumb). EDIT: This has now changed since the writing of this story and Amanda has been on an absolute tear.



After spending the summer on a boat in Alaska, Raymon saved up enough money to buy his bride-to-be the perfect engagement ring, and he proposed on September 21, 2024 in front of the same Tustin bookstore they had walked into together 6 months earlier…and she said yes! Surrounded by her family and a few curious onlookers. She sure draws a crowd!


As they draw nearer and nearer to God and His plan for their life together, Raymon and Amanda are incredibly humbled and blessed to be supported by so many wonderful friends, family, and an amazing church body at Echo church. With all the excitement, love, and joy of the Lord, they are SO ready to begin their biggest adventure yet!


LUCKYYYYYYYY