RJ and I met on Bumble in August 2021. I remember looking at his profile; he looked like a fun guy and loved Jesus. I loved getting notifications that he had messaged me and after going back and forth for a bit, RJ suggested meeting for coffee or something. I made a rule for myself: if they properly asked me out on a date, I would say yes, so I replied, “are you asking me out?” Then he did formerly ask me out:) On our first date, RJ picked me up at my house. I was so excited that I got up extra early to get ready. I even did a face mask the day before, so my makeup would look nice lol. I think I also had 3 different outfits set out because I wanted to wear my best outfit.

On our way to our date, RJ made small talk and light-hearted jokes, and I saw enough in those minutes that I wanted to hang out with him again. I realized I had left my phone at home when we got to the axe-throwing place. Normally, I would have panicked, but I already felt safe around RJ and knew I would be okay. Plus, at that point, I had been doing kickboxing for 3 years, so I knew how to take someone down in multiple ways lol. After Axe throwing, we went to lunch, and I remember thinking this guy was really listening and taking note of everything I was saying. I also loved his smile and laugh, which only solidified that I would say yes to a second date if he asked!

Our second date was to a Dodger game! Which I give lots of props to RJ because he grew up being an Angels fan, and that was his team, so he sacrificed his own team to take me to a Dodger game. The date was a Taylor Swift song because not only did we laugh the whole time, but the night ended with a firework night, and I held RJ’s hand:) I didn’t find out this fact until much later, but RJ said he drove slowly on the way back because he wanted to keep talking to me. At this point, I saw RJ had a kind and tender heart. I loved how he loved his family, his friends, and everyone in his community. Early on, RJ made me feel like we could laugh and have a serious conversation all in one breath. Every second with him was my favorite.

RJ and I went on a couple more dates. In between each one, we would text and call. These were my favorite moments during the day, especially seeing his name pop up on my phone. Since we were on a dating app, I stopped talking to everyone else and just focused on RJ. After a while, I decided that I wanted to be with him. RJ and I planned a date to a pumpkin patch, and the night before, we stayed up until 2am talking on the phone. At that point, I told myself I would bring it up during our date, and we would have a long drive to the pumpkin patch. And at the intersection of Arrow highway and Bonita Ave. I said, “Soooo, I was curious about where things are going because I am not talking to anyone…” This was followed by RJ saying, “This was something I was going to bring up at the pumpkin patch…” Then he asked me to be his girlfriend!

From here, the rest is history, but if I told anyone I would have married RJ a couple weeks after meeting him, they would have thought I lost my mind. And on July 1st, 2023, when we were supposed to have a picnic at Lacy Park, RJ asked me to marry him, and I blacked out once I realized what was happening, but I know I said yes!!!

From early on, I knew RJ was the one I wanted by my side on my best days, my worst days, the one I wanted to build a family with, the one I wanted to go on adventures with, the one I talk about sports and what terrible decisions the Dodgers are making and who they should trade for, and the one I want to grow old with. RJ is my best friend; he makes me feel like I can conquer anything life throws at me; he is my safe place to bounce off ideas, hopes, and aspirations; he makes me laugh to the point of literally peeing myself; he is #1 hype man, he is my most favorite person I have ever met, and I can’t wait to spend my life with him:)