In today’s world, modern dating often begins with a swipe on an app. There are many dating apps these days: Tinder, Plenty of Fish, Bumble, Hinge, etc. As some of you may know or not know, dating apps aren’t for the faint of heart… sometimes you come to the brink of losing faith that you will find the person of your dreams, your soulmate. Yesenia and Michael were at that brink, until one day on Facebook Dating, Yesenia got a DM (direct message) from Michael. Who knew that “Howdy” would be the beginning of forever.

I saw Yesenia’s photos and I thought she was very beautiful. I honestly thought to myself “She’s not going to text back.”

-Michael

I first matched with Michael, because he was good looking. I later learned that he was not only good looking but had a good heart.

-Yesenia

Eventually there comes a time when individuals have to move from an online platform to meeting for the first time. While you may know each other online, there is still a sense of excitement and nervousness that comes when finally meeting the person you’ve been messaging for days on end. It took Michael one week of messaging Yesenia to know he wanted to meet her in person. He asked her on a date and she said “yes.”

They went to a restaurant called “Chefs of New York” where they enjoyed Italian food and learned about one another. They spent all night talking that first date and by the end of it they also shared their first kiss.

All I was thinking in my head was “Oh my god, she’s beautiful.”

-Michael

I was impressed on how serious he was about actually getting to know each other in person

-Yesenia

Time flies by when you’re falling in love and eventually you hit the milestone of your one year anniversary. As a new young couple, Yesenia and Michael spent their first year learning about one another, going on romantic dates, sharing laughs and joys, meeting each other's family, and going on adventures. All of these beautiful moments are a part of the journey of falling in love.

Michael and Yesenia accomplished a very big milestone of celebrating one year of being a couple. They went out on a date to Red Lobster and it was perfect because they were just being themselves and enjoying each other's company. A year down and forever to go.

It honestly didn’t feel like a year. I felt like I was the luckiest man in the world. Because it felt like I was with someone who wanted to listen, someone who was always positive and supportive and smiling.

-Michael

I had to work on our one year anniversary. I did not have time to get ready and we did not do anything fancy, but Michael made me feel like I was on top of the world.

-Yesenia

Michael and Yesenia got to experience many adventures together, including getting to travel together. Their first big trip together was visiting Nashville, Tennessee with Michael’s family. They got to visit Graceland, go to the Country Music Hall of Fame, and create many wonderful memories. Yesenia also got to learn so much about Michael’s passion for music and got to see him perform at an open-mic night!!

My favorite part was learning more about Michael’s passion and how he taught me things throughout the trip.

-Yesenia

[My favorite part] was the Country Music Hall of Fame. I was basically Yesenia’s personal tour guide giving her all the facts I know. I think for me I was just excited, because there were now visuals on stuff I have been talking her ear off about and now I could finally show her!

-Michael

They do not call it "The Happiest Place on Earth" for no reason. Disneyland makes anyone who is lucky to attend feel happy, excited, and romantisize the fairy tails are real.

What was thought to be a regular Disneyland Trip turned out to be the magical engagement of Yesenia and Michael.

They learned and felt that they were each other's"happiest place on earth" and decided they wanted that for the rest of their lives.

I decided to propose because I’m in love with Yesenia. She’s my best friend, I can talk to her about anything. She’s understanding, caring, accepting, and I just knew that I wanted to spend forever with her.

-Michael

I said yes to Michael because I’m in love with him and he truly loves me back. I never have to second guess his affection for me and he always considers me first. I love the way he loves me. I have never had to ask or tell him how to love me.

-Yesenia

There is so much hope and excitement for a newly engaged couple. From calling each other “fiance,” wedding planning, celebrating along the way to “I do,” joining each other's family, and dreaming about the future you want together. Yesenia and Michael have so many hopes for their futures.

I hope our relationship grows stronger as we continue on as a married couple. I’m looking forward to moving into our own home and having kids. And I hope we continue with all the shenanigans we usually do. I’m looking forward to just growing old and being with Yesenia and holding her hand the whole time. I’m excited to be joining a new family. They’re very welcoming and I feel like I’m a part of the family already.

-Michael

For our future, I hope we stay strong and learn more and build a good foundation for ourselves… I’m looking forward to our new journey together and building our family! Hopefully having kids and a home where we are busy doing family stuff [like taking the kids to] baseball practice and making family beach trips; having our parents turn into grandparents and our siblings into aunts and an uncle to help raise and be good role models our children can look up to. I’m confident and comfortable joining a new family that shows so much love.

-Yesenia