Be Our Guest! Time to Celebrate!

Rebecca moved to her aunt and uncle's home in Minneapolis, MN the summer of 2021 to teach kindergarten and Christopher-James was opening up the first boba tea shop in Sudbury, Ontario Canada. They did not know the other person existed at this point until Rebecca became fast friends with Chris' older sister, Shizuka, whom she had met at her cousin Samina's wedding earlier that year. At this point, Chris was just Shizuka's younger brother and that was that. Soon Rebecca joined in on a morning devotional with her church and lo and behold who else attended?! You guessed it Christopher-James! One morning Rebecca offered a song and that's when Chris's dad messaged her to thank her for the performance and to reach out to Shizuka to have a friend in Minneapolis. Rebecca excitedly replied, "I know Shizuka, I love her! We're great friends already!" And little did Rebecca know that Papa Roddy texted Shizuka and asked, "Why haven't you introduced Rebecca to Christopher-James! They'd be perfect together!" Shizuka responded with, "Dad, I've been thinking the same thing, but she just moved here and I don't want to freak her out!" However, Shizuka promptly mentioned that she had a brother and he also attended the devotional. So, Rebecca being curious began to keep an eye out for him and realized she had noticed him before, but didn't make the connection because of the different last names. And she already respected his love for God and well... he was pretty handsome too. Soon Shizuka was taking photos of her kids with Rebecca and sending them over to Chris to show how she fits in with the family already. Chris didn't even know if Rebecca knew Shizuka was sending him photos of her but he hoped she did because you can't explain the things crazy older sisters do for their younger siblings. However, once Chris saw Rebecca dressed up as Belle from 'Beauty and the Beast' for Halloween holding his little niece, Emi, he was smitten. Meanwhile, Shizuka did mention to Rebecca that she might get along with Chris and Rebecca thought, 'Well if he's as kind and warm-hearted as Shizuka and her husband I would love to be with a man like that.' So, Rebecca did what girls do best and looked him up on everything... but just like boys do best… Chris had ZERO posts... except from middle school and the occasional high school from 10-15 years before... At least Shizuka knew her brother was the WORST on social, so she began sending Rebecca more updated photos which she then saved. Little did she know Rebecca was looking at her soon to be Prince Charming and he was looking at his very own Princess. Once phone numbers were exchanged and Chris had the courage to text Rebecca it was like the two of them had known each other for years. If there was a saying, 'Love at first text' it would be this. Every conversation was easy and seamless and when they finally facetimed one Sunday night their call lasted for hours and neither of them wanted to hang up regardless of their early mornings. Fast forward to a year later, they finally met in September of 2022. Rebecca flies in for a two-week trip, being greeted by her French-Canadian Man, Christopher-James Portelance in his favorite California sweatshirt. The whole world seemed to stop when they were finally able to meet. Once they were in each others' arms they both knew they were never letting go. And that two-week trip turned into a four month Canadian Hallmark Christmas movie with a boy and a girl and a Christmas ornament kiosk. You know the saying, "When you know, you know..." And although they didn't know it yet, they would soon know it couldn't be more true.