Persistency, persistency, persistency….That’s what I’ll tell my children and grandchildren one day when they ask how I met their mother/grandmother. It was 2010, Junior year at Desert Edge High school. I was the new kid on the block. I just transferred from Trevor G Browne where I ruled the halls, to now to trying to be invisible in a new school……

Just like in the cheesy 90’s Disney Teen movies, the doors pop open from the outside, light blaring through the doors as the popular girls come strutting though. In the middle of the group stood out one special girl, like a spot light from a Hollywood premiere. Isabel stood there with her big cheesy smile from ear to ear. There I stood, this chunky insecure nobody trying to figure how to get along in this new and bizarre school. 2 years came and went with no luck, but some measly interactions. She was on the training staff for the football team. My only memories of conversations with Isabel was when she would wrap my ankles before the games and would ask me if the tape was too tight.

Almost 10 years later I’m walking into Lifetime Fitness with one of my cousins from Mexico. As I walk up stairs to the stretching area to my surprise there was the light again. Isabel stood there with her leopard print mask (COVID 19 ERA), and underneath I could see there was that big cheesy smile from her. In excitement I look to my cousin and tell him about the huge crush I had on her but never stood a chance with her. I knew it was time, my time to finally make a move and get the girl of my dreams. I’m no longer the chunky kid from Junior year. This is Bryan 2.0, fit, well dressed, smelling good, and pimple free. I start to walk over, the closer I got the more I started to remember that insecure kid from High school. I walked past her and pretended I needed some weights near where she was at. I choked like the Chicago bears against the Packers, couldn’t pull through for the win.

Something deep in my stomach said this can’t be the last time. At the time I had a gym membership at EoS, but because of that cheesy smile I went and got another membership at Lifetime Fitness. Just for a shot, a shot of happiness, a shot to be with the girl of my dreams. I didn’t even know if she had boyfriend or not at the time but I didn’t care, I knew I had to try. It started with a DM on Instagram to conversations in the sauna. Finally the day came and I finally asked her out for dinner and drinks.

During dinner the nerves were high. I started off with a shot of Don Julio and a tall beer to wash it all down. Isabel is quiet, short in conversation, but a smile bigger then her face. I couldn’t figure out if she was nervous, bored, or just quiet. After Cornish Pasty Co. we head over to Pigtails for a drink. Something changed, Isabel was finally talking, laughing, and looked comfortable. I sat across from her and watched her. I thought to myself should I make the move and go in for a kiss or let the moment slip and maybe never have this chance again. No, I said to myself. Just go for it I repeated in my head over and over. I took one last drink, stood up and leaned over for the kiss. I caressed the side of her face, puckered my lips, pulled her closer and locked lips. The rest of night was a blur. I got home and I knew I succeeded. Persistency finally paid off, and I got the girl of my dreams. The rest is history with this cheese ball (Isabel)

I like to believe god places people and experiences in our path. He speaks to us in such mysterious but loud and clear ways. We choose to let the noises of the world distract us from what he’s clearly telling and teaching us. When I was in high school I can’t explain why but something always deep in my heart pulled me towards Isabel. I know she is the one for me because I can feel God is with us when we’re together. I stayed quiet long enough to listen to God, to what he was trying to tell, and show me. God knew I needed her more than she needed me. My world was so dark, and gloomy.

2 Corinthians 4:6, For it is god who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” Who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of god in the face of Christ.