God is funny sometimes.

For many years, Mari struggled through life not knowing what to do or where to turn. Even though she lived with a blessed family, she felt like she never fit in anywhere until one day, a group of nuns showed up at her church, Our Lady of Mount Carmel. She said to herself, that life looks beautiful: the solitude, the quiet, and the faith all wrapped up in one. For a time, she asked God to let her be a nun. Then one day, a priest (her spiritual director) told her that she should discern marriage as she would make a wonderful wife and mother. He told her to talk with the saints and order a husband from God. One night, on a blistery Arizona November Eve, she knelt before the Blessed Sacrament and said, "God, I want a man who has the looks of Padre Pio, the personality of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frasatti, and the name of an Italian Saint who punches heretics and is good with kids...Nick will do". God said, "Give me a couple of months and I'll see what I can whip up...".

*Flash to Nick crying in a window on Christmas night singing, "Where are you Christmas? Why can't I find you? Why have you gone away?" *in the stylings of Cindy Loo Who from The Grinch*.

God *In Sister May's voice*: "Your wife finally called. Wanna meet?"

Nick: "I'm busy. Sorry".

God *in Sister Poyee's voice*: "Listen to me, boy. You gon' meet!"

Nick: "Yes, God. My b. Chill"

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Sister Poyee and Sister May were God's instruments to bring them together. In December of 2022, Sister May told Nick there was a beautiful woman she wanted him to meet but try as she may (pun intended) to get them to meet, he did not have the time to connect. Without knowing that Sister May was trying to play matchmaker, Sister Poyee reached out in January to both of them and asked if they wanted to be Godparents to two wonderful high school girls and they both said yes. They initially got coffee to talk about how they wanted to approach their "parenting" and found themselves talking for hours about life and how God had blessed them. One thing led to another and they decided to start courting to determine if God was calling them to discern a deeper spiritual journey together. They officially started dating on April 8th at the Easter Vigil Mass and the first thing they did as a couple was welcome their Goddaughters into the Church. They continued to discern God's will for them and within a couple of months, Mari knew they were meant to be married. Nick, the stubborn *Mari says mule, Nick says ass (don't worry its biblical)* he is, needed a couple more months but by month 5, he knew this was for real. Nick asked Mari to marry him on October 8th, their 6 month anniversary, on Dobbins Lookout at the top of South Mountain. She decided to take a leap of non-literal faith and said YES!!! They were betrothed to be married on December 16th, 2023 and God willing, will be husband and wife on May 31st, 2024.

Moral of the Story: If you're ever lost in life, find a nun and become best friends with them and then do what they say. They typically know what God is talking about.

P.S. We are extremely excited to celebrate with you all and are grateful for all of the support over the entirety of our relationship. We love you all. God bless and love you always. -Nick and Mari

Travel coming soon!