Hmm…what can I say? Where do I even begin? I guess I can say that life hasn’t been easy. And seeing my friends get married off one-by-one as I remained single was quite discouraging at times. For a long time, I wondered if God just wanted me to stay single for the rest of my life. As time went on, I started to be ok with that. And God told me over and over again that no matter what happens, I can trust that He loves me and He will always be with me. So I kept living life the best I can, enjoying what God has given me and following Him as I go. And then Cody entered into the scene. 😊

I think it was Nov 2020 when Cody first visit Ignite, my Sunday Life Bible Study class at Houston’s First Baptist Church. He seemed nice but also quiet and reserved. He stood out to me at the Ignite Christmas party that December. I was the Gather Leader then and had helped plan and coordinate our class holiday party. I was pretty busy hosting but was so thankful when this new guy offered to help me clean up when the party ended.

From there, I would see him on and off in class on Sundays. I noticed he would sit next to me in class sometimes and during class lunch. We would talk a little bit at church or when he would join us at class events and trips. I would invite him out to our class events and he would thank me for the invitation and that would be it. The conversation never went beyond that and we never really talked outside of our Bible study. Not until after our class Easter camping trip at Garner St Park in April 2022. On the last day of the camping trip, he woke up early to watch the sunrise with me by the creek. Although he didn’t say much that morning, I knew he liked me. But I also really tried not to read too much into it. But a few days after our camping trip, he texted me completely out of the blue to see how my new job at MD Anderson was going. I was really surprised by his message but so happy that he did reach out. An even bigger surprise was, we talked almost everyday since then and he eventually asked me out. The funny thing was, I was planning to back out of the camping trip but my friend Stephani convinced me to go. And I’m so thankful that I did.

We had our first date on May 17, 2022 at Hokkiado Japanese Restaurant in Chinatown. We were both nervous but it didn’t last long, at least for me. He made me laugh so much as we shared how much we love cute animals and nature. I didn’t want our date to end. After dinner, we decided to go for dessert at Nu Cafe just down the street. We actually ran into a friend of ours (Eber) from church at the dessert place, but we didn’t seem to care.

Every time I would spend time with Cody, he would always made me feel comfortable, and that I could be myself. He’s incredibly sweet, caring, intelligent, makes me laugh and loves God. It feels like we’ve been friends for a long time. And I had never experienced this with anyone else before. As we went on more and more dates, it became apparent to me that this could be the real thing and I couldn’t be more excited.

I was very nervous about meeting his family, but they turned out to be the sweetest people ever, and I’ve fallen in love with his family too. Having Cody meet my dad was also nerve racking and I prayed so much for dad to like him. (Dad can be quite picky.) God has truly blessed us because it seemed like dad liked Cody too. It feels like I’m dreaming because things were just falling into place.

Cody and I have been planning to go on an Alaskan cruise together since Oct 2022. The closer we got to our cruise, the more excited we became. Our cruise leaving from Seattle was scheduled for Aug 18, 2023. However, for awhile there I was worried that we wouldn’t be able to go on our cruise as dad got really sick at the end of July. He had to get admitted into the ICU at Houston Methodist Hospital - West and have an emergency surgery for an infected gallbladder and gallstones. A long recovery was most likely to follow. But praise God, He healed dad, gave him a speedy recovery and brought us so much support through friends, family and health care resources. I couldn’t be more grateful for what God has done for dad and allowing Cody and I to go on the cruise. Little did I know Cody was planning to propose the very first night on our cruise.

God is amazing and does answer prayers. Not always in the way or within the timeframe we expect or hope. But it doesn’t mean He isn’t working or He doesn’t care. In fact, He loves each of us deeply. His plans are just greater than our own, and His way is always better. ❤️

My story is a simple one but one full of joy, love, and encouragement from those around me. I was content with whatever the Lord had in store for me in my life and I would have been joyful. I remember asking him for guidance in finding someone to spend my life with and if it was not something God had planned for me I would have been happy. After searching for a new church to worship and grow in my faith, I found Houston’s First Baptist Church and unknowingly saw the love of my life and the woman that I would build the rest of my life with.

It was on my first visit to the church that the welcome team directed me to a singles small group called Ignite so i could grow in my relationship with God. It was there that I first saw Susan and she stood out to me, and I looked for any opportunity to sit by her and talk to her. I would try to help her set up or tear down after an event so that i could get to know her better. Unfortunately i am very shy and not the best at showing how i feel or when talking with people.

After a while of talking with her i knew that she was someone special and that i should be better about talking with her. Previous she would text me to see if i wanted to go to an event or to let me know one was happening, but i wouldn’t go beyond that or talk outside of events. So i decided on an Easter camping trip that i would be more active about talking with her and getting to know her better. That weekend i woke up early so that we could watch a sun rise together and talk some. After the trip i knew that she started a new job at md anderson and i texted her asking about how the new job was. It was after that i asked her out to celebrate the new job and time has flown by since then.

I was very nervous on our first few dates and did not wont to come across as weird or awkward, but thankfully the dates felt natural since she is just so wonderful and special. As we continued to date, i was thinking that she is the one for me and the person i would like to spend the rest of my life with.

Thankfully we had previously planned a trip to Alaska and i thought that that would be the perfect time for me to propose. So i planned for many months getting things ready. I asked her sister to help me figure out the ring size and good potential spots to ask for Susan’s hand in marriage. It felt like time was slowing down every day that it got closer to the cruise and i was getting more excited by the day to ask. It was on the first night of the cruise that i asked the question and she made me the happiest man in the world by saying yes.

I find myself thinking about that moment she said yes and am filled with joy that i can call her my fiancée and my future wife. I thank God every day that he put her in my life and guided me in our relationship and continues to guide us in our walk together.