Timing is everything...

Both Mayra and Kevin's journey originated separately, in southern towns not anywhere near The Golden State. Mayra was born South of the Border in a Guatemalan small town. Kevin was born in The South in a small town in North Carolina. While the threads leading to each other have been uniquely different, the themes have been the same; family values, love of neighbor, belief in Jesus, and an appreciation of self-growth.

Mayra's early youth was surrounded by close and extended family with small town values. Eventually, she and her close family trekked (and it was a TREK) to Orange, California. At a very young age and in a strange new place she learned an entirely new language, played soccer, found a church, built a diverse friend group, and learned who Mayra truly is. Mayra's bridesmaids are a mix of those family and friends from California and places from journey.

Kevin spent most of his youth in North Carolina enjoying the outdoors, playing sports (especially soccer), and riding bikes. Shortly after college at App State, Kevin and a close friend decided to move to southern California. Once there, he continued soccer, picked up surfing, found a church, and built a group of more close friends. Kevin's groomsmen are a mix of his family and friends (including the one he moved to CA with) from North Carolina and California.

The church Mayra and Kevin found in California ended up being the same church. Through a life group with that church is how Kevin and Mayra met...It's probably the best life group that church has ever had, and those who were in it would agree. It was a challenging, diverse, and tight knit group of individuals seeking to know God more, and we truly lived life together. The rest of the church pretty much wanted to be in it. Oh, and a lot of marriages resulted from it ;)

....Okay back to the story.

Mayra and Kevin definitely noticed each other right off the bat in the life group (we've talked about it), however the timing was never right. One or the other (or both) were usually in a relationship while the other was single. And while that may sound a little unfortunate and the thought arises of "man, they could've been together so much earlier," the blessing is it enabled each to grow and truly be themselves around each other. This is why timing is everything.

Eventually, both finally being single at the same time, the spark from years ago took light. Depending on who you ask that person will tell you they made the first move, but the true story is it took a mutual friend named Tony to finally bring the two together.

Since then it's been a mutual journey of career changes, continual self growth, family, trying to love Jesus more, lots of laughs, navigating a pandemic, and yes, puppies!

Mayra and Kevin may have taken a little longer than each anticipated to find the other, but they found each other in proper time, and the timing was right. We are excited to continue our journey together, and really excited to celebrate this chapter with you.

Photos