Their story began 13 years ago, in 2012, at their high school, Lyons Township. It was the tail end of their freshman year when a playful friendship immediately sparked. They’ll both tell you that since high school, there’s always been a sense of safety and security in being themselves with each other. Fun fact: Claudia actually rejected Abel when he asked her to their sophomore homecoming dance. She said yes at first—but later texted him after school to take it back. Look at her now! After high school, Claudia and Abel both attended the same community college for a year. Even after Abel transferred to Moody Bible Institute, they stayed in touch here and there. And then came silence. For seven years, there was no contact between them—no hard feelings, just distance and two lives heading in different directions. Until 2023, when Claudia found herself back at her home church—the same church where Abel just so happened to be serving as the youth director. Both were on their own journeys. The embers of that old friendship were still there, and by the latter half of 2024, that friendship began to blossom again. As the year came to a close, Abel started to realize just how beautiful—inside and out—Claudia was (and still is!). On February 1, 2025, Abel shared his feelings with Claudia. This time, there was no fake “yes” or rejection text afterward—Claudia felt the same way. On March 8, 2025, Abel asked Claudia to be his girlfriend. Their friendship had transformed into a relationship, and that same sense of safety and security carried through. They love laughing together (and at each other), snacking on elotes and mangonadas, and most of all, they love Jesus, the church, and serving together. Then, on October 4, 2025, Abel proposed to Claudia in her sister’s backyard. He set up photos from their friendship in high school through their relationship today. Knowing Claudia’s love for the show Friends, Abel wrote a note on the back of each photo using the show’s signature episode format—“The One Where…”—to describe each moment of their story. Their story perfectly captures what it means to meet the right person at the wrong time—and to trust that God’s timing and purposes always prevail.