Josh and I met on a Monday in August of 2005 in Mrs. Garza’s 8th grade math class. This new kid came from Clear Lake wearing a big smile and a flash drive around his neck. Could this seventh-grader be smarter than me at math? (Find out at our wedding math contest!) Josh and I became friends but parted ways for a year since I was in the grade above him. We somewhat ended up at different schools, but since I had choir and he had orchestra, we’d see each other on our way to class or hear each other practicing once we were both in high school. First day of junior year, Josh was on my bus and he lived nearby! We got to know each other better little by little. THE EVENTS Oct 23: we volunteer at the same Children’s Hospital. Josh and I are paired up and we have a blast. We exchange phone numbers. My friend invites us to a football game. Oct 24: Josh gives me Vivaldi CDs at school because he knows I like classical music. Right before getting to the stadium, I start feeling like I'm looking at Josh's eyes for the first time. Teen love: true, sudden, and strong. An hour after that Josh exclaims we're not on a date. An hour after that we hold hands. Then, we kissed. Oct 25: I have "I Won't Say I'm in Love" on repeat. My friend calls, suggesting I talk to Josh and go to the I-Ball dance that night. Like a fairytale movie (but with 2000s music) another friend gives me a ride, pays for my ticket, and says he wants credit when Josh and I marry. I get there and it's LOUD. I dance with Josh, who's dressed like a banana. He makes sure I get home safely. We keep texting and he says he wants to ask me something in person at the park around sunset. We can't talk until then. Oct 26: Josh asks me to be his girlfriend. We have been together ever since. He makes me fall in love with him over and over. It's magical to be in love with my soul mate! Josh is the most incredible person I know. Wish me luck as I try to spend the rest of my life making sure he knows how much I love him!

My family moved to McAllen before I started seventh grade. I’ll admit I was a little bit scared of the first class with eighth-graders. I met Clarissa and no longer felt fear. If you’ve met her, then you know what I mean. I thought she was pretty and very nice. She talked to everybody. She was also really, really smart and funny. To this day, she still has bunch of little gifts I gave her in 2005. Clarissa went off to high school and I didn’t see her until my freshman year. We saw each other in passing everyday near the music building. I convinced her to apply to my IB school. She was at my school the following year. One day at a Halloween volunteer event at the hospital, Clarissa and I helped with face-painting. My heart would race when I looked at her. (It still does) At that event, a couple of friends invited us to a football game. Friday night came along and I was nervous. In case you don’t know, I am not the anxious type. I asked to pay for Clarissa’s ticket as she offered to pay for mine. She made a joke about who’s asking whom on a date. Because she is the love of my life and the girl of my dreams, I punched her in the arm and yelled “I know this is not a date FRIENNNND! HAHA” and she punched me back saying “alright FRIEND!” We sat together and I didn’t let go of her hand the whole night. Before getting to my house, I kissed her. The next day I texted her asking if she'd go to the school dance that night. If she ended up going, she said, she would find me. She got there late and we danced to two heavily-censored Lil Wayne songs...so not as much time as I wanted. It had to be special when I asked her to be my girlfriend. We met up the next day at sunset at the park and talked until the sky was full of stars. I could talk to her forever. Ten years later I planned a bigger proposal. My belle señorita said yes. She has always had the kind of beauty that makes me want to do romantic things, just to see her smile. If you’ve met her, then you know what I mean.

September 2017: After Clarissa's first medical school exam, Josh surprised her with a framed picture of the Eiffel tower. Plane tickets for Paris were taped to the back! March 2018: After a final exam, J&C drove through the night to catch their flight. On Day 3, Josh promised a “world-class breakfast." The "reservation" was early in the morning. They rushed through the streets of Paris! Suddenly, Josh stopped Clarissa and told her to look left. It was a magnificent view of the Eiffel Tower. “You look beautiful, I just want to take a picture of you.” Josh extended his arm for a selfie. A petite Parisian lady reading nearby asked J&C if they wanted their picture. As Clarissa was politely saying NO, Josh gave this stranger his phone. Clarissa turned to Josh, who was now getting down on one knee. “No, no! What? Oh my God,” she said, stunned. Josh pulled out a piece of paper and read a lovely poem about their story. The last line referenced a special moment. ** When they first started dating, Clarissa felt unsure about taking Josh to the flea market (La Pulga.) There’s fruit, good music, loud vendors, and dirt. Clarissa wondered if Josh would like it as much as she did. Josh went… he LOVED it! One time, a man at the corn stand asked J&C really specific questions about their political views. He then asked “WAIT. AHR YU GUISE IN LAHV?” Josh looked at Clarissa and said, “Yeah. Yeah we are.” ** On a cold Wednesday morning, Josh held out a box from Tiffany’s and said “It’s time to answer our friend’s question: “AHR YOU GUISE IN LAHV?” Clarissa literally slapped her knee laughing and said YES. As they hugged, someone was taking pictures with a gigantic camera. It was the same petite Parisian lady. The lady said “CLARISSA! I KNOW SO MUCH ABOUT YOU! I am your photographer and Josh planned every little detail! We can walk around Paris and take pictures.” The two people in lahv had an unforgettable photoshoot. And off they went, out there, strolling by the Seine.