At 16 years old, you never truly expect to meet the love of your life. Yet, that’s where our story began. As juniors in the IB program at Franklin High School, someone who could talk to anyone and light up a room, crossed paths with someone who was shy and timid (we’ll let you guess who was who). Sitting on opposite sides of the classroom in Mr. Pinkham's history class is when we first truly noticed one another. Towards the end of class, Deanna approached Robert and they began to talk. We may never agree on who made the first move and what we talked about, but fate clearly had a plan for us. From that moment on we knew we were blessed and our lives became intertwined. And now, all these years later, we find ourselves counting down the days until we say, “I do.”

As we got to know one another in high school, we began to grow close. We created a unique bond that we knew was like no other. Waiting outside each other's classroom, sharing lunch, holding hands, yes, your typical high school romance. Having our first kiss outside the C-building after school before Robert headed to baseball practice. Deanna wearing bright pink hoop earrings with her hair high in a ponytail while Robert had his Michael Jordan t-shirt on clutching on to the strap of his baseball bag. We will never forget our first kiss. It was here that we knew we had found our best friend. What we didn't know at that time is we also found the love of our life. May 26th, 2004.

Deanna and Robert spent a beautiful summer together. meeting each other's families, going to the lake and taking trips. During one trip to Reno for Hot August Nights when Deanna went with her family and Robert went with his, they found a way to meet up. Robert told his parents Deanna and her parents were picking him up outside the hotel room while Deanna told her parents that she is meeting Robert and his family downstairs. Robert raced a mile down Virginia St. where he met Deanna waiting for him on the sidewalk under the lights of the El Dorado Hotel. She stood there with her beautiful smile, and he watched her with a twinkle in his eyes as they begin to approach one another to the song "I can love you like that" playing through the hotel speakers. Those are moments you just never forget.

It was truly a summer we never wanted to end, but yet back to school we returned as Seniors. As we navigated through our last year of high school we had a lot to think about. Mainly what was next for us as individuals. It was here that our love story together had to take a pause. And although our journeys took different paths leaving high school, we knew we had a once in a lifetime connection, God given.

As young adults, our journeys went down separate paths. We lost contact as we began to navigate the world trying to figure out where we belonged. And although during this time we didn't have our best friend, we learned that everything happens for a reason. God has a plan for all of us, and he would later show us ours.

Years down the road after high school, Deanna had decided that she was going back to school. At this time Robert also was enrolling back into school. As fate would have it, we crossed paths again at Delta college. Just like that, the friendship and bond that developed years prior in high school was back like it never left. It's rare you find someone with so many common interests while still being able to let loose and be yourself.

Deanna and Robert graduated from Delta College and continued their journey for their undergraduate degree at Sacramento State University where they received their bachelor's degree. Thankfully we had our friendship to get us through some pretty tough college challenges.

After Sacramento State, Deanna went on to pursue her master's at San Jose St while Robert went to work. We were no longer seeing each other as often but this time we would not lose contact. We had played a vital role for each other lives during our educational years.

We know it was God that aligned our paths, and the bond that we created through him at this point was unbreakable.

Fast-forward a few years, with a few trials and life tribulations. Sometime later Deanna and Robert began to see each other and talk to each other every day. It was to a point that if they did not see or hear from one another the day just didn't feel complete. Robert decided to take Deanna on a getaway to San Diego, and it is here they took their best friendship further, as Robert asked Deanna to be his girlfriend, November 4th, 2022.

As only a couple months passed in this relationship Robert knew already that Deanna would be his forever. So, he began planning.

One place Deanna and Robert both always dreamed of visiting was Hawaii. Robert knew that was the place to ask the biggest question he would ever ask. Driving down the highway looking at the ocean, we both felt something in our hearts, we both knew a moment would soon take place that would change our lives. Robert parked near the beach, went around opened Deanna's door, grabbed her hand and they began to walk. He began to tell her how much she meant to him, what feels like a lifetime of emotions being expressed in minutes. Deanna looking at Robert knowing he meant every word he said as she then started to hear the ukulele play. She turned to look where it was coming from, to see in the sand the words "Marry Me" next to a heart made of flowers. Robert dropped to his knee looked up at Deanna with ring in hand asking her, "will you marry me". Deanna with tears in her eyes, responded with the only word Roberts ears needed to hear, "Yes". November 4th, 2023

They say you want to make God laugh, just tell him your plans. We know God put us together for a reason. Whatever plans we had for the future were now going to be together forever. He knows how to put people in the right place at the right time. He is here to protect and guide us and he does so by putting people in our lives we call angels. We are both beyond blessed to say we found our angel, our best friend, our life partner, our love, our forever.