My first impression of Jayla was my first week of Bible College. Due to being sick, I couldn't attend on time with the rest of the students which made me 2 weeks late to on-campus attendance. I immediately met Jayla & several others and quickly gravitated toward those I got along with, Jayla being the most notable. We were friends right away. I thought her friendliness and outgoing personality were cool traits. Little did I know I was surely becoming friends with the love of my life.

It wasn't until the fall semester @ CLC that I started learning to follow the voice and will of God. I knew by the time I spent with Jayla, that this was unlike any other connection I've ever had. I knew I felt a way toward her that I wanted to deal with prayerfully and carefully. Jayla wasn't like any other girl I've ever known. Our chemistry was unique. Through continual prayer and fasting the Lord spoke to me and helped me to learn how to establish a God-centered relationship. God spoke to me with a promise and through that word, with faith, I knew that if this was the will of God, someday, my relationship with Jayla would work out.

Throughout college, we kept getting closer and closer. Learning more about each other and what we were looking for in a spouse. Discovering that I was checking off boxes of a list she had hinted at was a sign that my prayers were being answered. Without knowing the contents of that list, I was confident the Lord had my back. I was determined to be the man that I needed to be if I were to be with Jayla. She was special to me, she was worth all the work and effort it took to get where I needed to be. I'm thankful for her, as she played a crucial part in that season of my life. It was then, that I started to see our future falling into place.

It wasn't until after Bible College that things got more serious. For two long years during our long-distance relationship, I worked, prayed, waited, and saved money until the next step in our future together started falling into place. I graduated from EMT school and was hired by an Ambulance company near where Jayla lived. All the work paid off as I knew it would. I trusted God that the pieces would come together and in perfect timing they did.

We learned to communicate in the most challenging way possible, finding time to visit and balance our busy lives. Learning to maintain a friendship and a relationship. After all the waiting, within a month, I was living in Hanford and was finally closing that dreaded long-distance gap. The proposal shortly ensued and wedding planning was commenced. Now we are closer than ever to our future. I can't wait to marry the love of my life, a gift and treasure I've been blessed with. Here's to forever with my bride-to-be. ❤️

J&A

Wedding Day

Ceremony

Reception