We met in 2014 while in Spanish class at Northpoint High School. We still laugh about our perspectives on how it all began: Raul: When I first saw Courtney walk into class I froze and admired her natural beauty. God showed off when making her. Our first time talking started by me asking her for lotion when I didn’t even use it at the time. I noticed there was an open seat beside her, so of course next class that's where I sat. I would try making her laugh and just get to know her, but Courtney did not budge. Courtney: Asking for lotion became a daily reoccurrence. I refused to tell him anything other than my Spanish class name at the time, which was Catalina, because I wasn’t quite sure about him yet. He gradually looked for ways to talk outside of class, and my eyes started to open to how sweet, patient, and diligent he was. He truly wanted to get to know me. Slowly we began messaging one another, then talking for hours on end over the phone, and laughing about any and everything. We’d hang out during lunch and meet at each other’s lockers to surprise the other with little gifts or just to walk each other to the buses at the end of the day.

Throughout our high school and college years, our relationship blossomed into us becoming the loves of each other’s life. We spent a lot of quality time with each other and our families, and attended church together. In 2019, we decided to take a break in our relationship in order to grow closer to God. We knew that one of the most loving things one could do for someone they love is to nurture and protect the relationship they have with God above their own. At our own pace, each of us eventually made the decision to give our life to Jesus, and then we started dating again in 2021. With us fighting to keep God in the center of our relationship, it added so much more to the love we already shared for one another.

Raul proposed on my birthday – July 14, 2023 – and secretly arranged for close family members to be there to witness the moment. What a beautiful sentiment it was for him to do so at Tilghman Park, the same park we began dating again in 2021. Like out of a romance flick, as Raul proposed on one knee, flocks of geese began to fly from behind him; a man that happened to notice what was happening cued the song “Nobody” by Brian KcKnight to set the mood; not to mention hard rains predicted for that day held off right until everyone made it back inside their vehicles. It was too perfect of a moment that felt well-orchestrated not only by Raul, but also by God. We are now so excited to celebrate our coming union with so many of our friends and family as we embrace this new chapter of our love story!