A - We like to say that our story is one of God’s timing, mixed with some obliviousness, some helpful friends and a few twists of fate. It’s a story of surrender and allowing the Holy Spirit to prepare our hearts and then open our eyes when God knew we were ready. D - The actual moment we met is not really known to either of us. We attended UT Austin at the same time, separately but simultaneously involved at the University Catholic Center and occasionally overlapping at events and volunteer opportunities. We recall hearing each other’s name, being generally aware of the other’s existence but neither can say for certain that we ever really spoke. A - That was until Nov. 3, 2021. I recall this date because it was a special night. It was the first time I had been to adoration since before the COVID-19 pandemic. As I prayed, I looked up and saw Dany a few rows away kneeling before the cross. I recalled knowing he was a good man with a strong faith in college– that was about all I knew. I asked God to show me how to be more this way and to put people like this in my path. As adoration concluded, to my surprise, he greeted me with a hug as if we were old friends. It was exactly the warm welcome I needed to feel comfortable at church again. D - Suddenly, Acacia became involved in the same ministries at St. Albert’s that I was in. We got to know each other, and eventually grew in our friendship. Before I knew it, my best friend and I were demanded to blindly join a friendship contract with Acacia and her friend. Things seemed suspicious already, and my suspicions were further confirmed when Acacia later invited me to an hours-long guitar tutoring session. After that, I was convinced that Acacia was into me, and I began to wonder whether I felt the same way about her. We shared extensive text messages, solidified our friendship through our newly formed friend group, and most important of all, realized that we share our love for God and our calling to serve others. A - Over the next few months, we lived out the terms of our agreement: a required monthly hangout, two concerts per year and a friend group adventure. I was sure that I had friend-zoned him with our strict friendship contract and I thought it was very friendly of him to check in on me, invite me to see the stars and volunteer to teach me guitar when I asked what was the best way to learn. I was glad to have a friend that I could share my faith with and I noticed he was always around at the same volunteer opportunities. By the time we traveled to Canyon Lake in May 2023, everyone but me was aware our friendship was slowly but surely becoming more. D - After months of praying about it, getting not so subtle hints from our friends, and what I thought were sure signs that she liked me too, I had decided I would ask her out - the only question was, when and how? I thought she was trying to make it obvious when she asked me to be her plus one to a work related party, so I told myself this would be it. After hanging out just the two of us, at the end of the night I finally asked her if she would go out on a date with me. Luckily for me, this was the first time, but not the last, that she would say yes to me. A - I know I missed all the signs– like an invitation to watch the stars, always ending up in the same car, a convenient hours-long guitar lesson and picking me up at my door. I invited friends to our first hangout because I never expected for you to ask that it be a date. Luckily, they said no and I said yes, and I cannot wait to continue giving you my yes for the rest of our lives.