Anna and I met in France while we were both on a semester abroad in Rouen, France. We began to know more about each other over walks to school, a weekly trip to the farmer's market, and Mass at Notre Dame de Miséricorde. Soon enough we realized that there was more in store for us than friendship. Anna bravely agreed to continue our relationship after the semester ended and we were left with an ocean between us. For the next three years, Anna loved me sweetly and fiercely as we visited one another and seamlessly joined each other's families. As her intelligence, virtue, and beauty increased by the day, I had no choice but to ask for her hand in marriage. I must thank God that in His providence I should find such a perfect soul to wed and pledge myself to forever.

I remember very well the first time I met John across the hallway, on my first day in Rouen. I remember very well all the moments I spent with him since the very start perhaps because I already felt that we were somehow alike. Just the first weeks were enough for most of my family to notice that I mentioned John a bit too frequently on our calls. The more time we spent together—in class or at the farmers’ market—the more I realized how much I liked him. The first infatuation slowly became more and more serious, as we tried to find any occasion to hang out together. I even found myself going to bed wondering what could have been between us. We decided to give it a try spending some of the most beautiful weeks ever together in France, followed by some of the saddest moments saying goodbye to each other for the first time. Since then we've had to say goodbye to each other so many times and spend months apart, connected only by our phones. All the hard moments, however, and all the tears shed cannot compare to all the beautiful things we've experienced together and all the love and joy we've shared. I'll be forever thankful to John for so many things but especially for always being so understanding and kind to me even when I didn't deserve it. Thanks to him I grew so much as a person and I hope I can become more and more deserving of him. I can't imagine a better life companion.