I met Joey when I was 16 years old at Whittier Christian High School’s homecoming dance. I remember distinctly spotting him across the room and thinking he was the cutest guy I had ever seen. After brief introductions and slightly panicking when I heard he attended, Servite (I had heard they were wild), I remember feeling very comfortable around him. As the dance ended and he asked for my number, I never would have guessed when I laid in bed that night that I had just met my future husband.

Joey and I would hang out weekly; going to the movies, the mall, and Chick-Fil-A. We would FaceTime after school until dinner and do homework together. Eventually I was introduced to his grandparents, Christine and Alfred. The second I was in their home I felt welcomed. We have shared many meals over the years and I even got to experience a brief and beautiful trip up to Mammoth with Joey and Alfred. As time went on Joey became a member of my family and has been included in holidays and birthday celebrations, and annual Cambria trips.

I have had the privilege of growing along side Joey from teenagers wondering where we would go to college to now adults and continuously cheering each other along as we launch into our careers. Joey has been my best friend for the last 8 years and always holds space for me to share my feelings and dreams. I feel incredibly blessed to have found my person at 16 and to have grown up with him into the person I am becoming.

As a little girl I remember dreaming about what I thought my future husband would look like. I remember laying in bed and thinking about how he was out there somewhere and I would pray for him. I can honestly say Joey checks all the boxes of who I wanted to spend my life with. I am beyond excited to celebrate this special day with you all!

The night that I met Jamie, I had no idea what it would become. When I went to Whittier Christian’s Homecoming Dance, I had no intentions of meeting someone. I was there because a friend of mine invited me to go. It all started with two of our mutual friends “setting us up” together by unknowingly following each other around for the night. At one time during the night, my friend pushed me and I accidentally bumped into Jamie. When I went to go apologize to her, I would not have guessed that she would become my future wife.

After we met and started talking more and more, I had realized that we would end up dating because she had such an amazing personality and her gorgeous looks. Before our first date, I remember meeting Jamie’s mom, Dana, before the movie and thinking she was very kind and sweet. A couple weeks later, Jamie asked me to go go-karting with her and her family. The time came when I had to meet her brother Ian and father George. I knew that both of them would be super competitive racing, so I had to be on my “A” game that day.

As Jamie mentioned, we have had countless dates and memories together. The ones I remember clearly are the time we went ice skating and watched some guy fall and slam into the wall. Of course we felt terrible, but we couldn’t help but laugh at what just happened. Another memory that comes to mind, is when I proposed to her at the Grand Canyon. I was extremely nervous. I had that proposal planned out the moment we booked that trip.

These past 8 years have been so amazing having Jamie by my side. She has always been there for me through thick and thin and I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with her.