Two Become One

Once upon a time there was a boy and a girl. Attending church and recommitting their lives to the Lord. They didn't know each other just yet but they had one thing in common: Jesus. Finding themselves at a young adults ministry hangout, Anthony first laid his eyes on Melissa. He noticed her smile and those beautiful dimples. He wasn't trying to think too far ahead but let's just say she made an impression on him. There came a day when they found themselves hanging out at in-n-out with a group of friends. They got to talking and began to share their testimonies. This sparked something that could only be started by the Lord. Anthony mustard up the courage to ask her out but she shot him down. For good reason of course, she was pursuing the Lord and just wasn't quite ready to get into a relationship. She kindly told Anthony and he understood but insisted on being friends. After all they both wanted to get to know each other more. After many months of building a friendship and serving the Lord together, God began to break down walls. Melissa began to heal in places she never thought she could and the Lord spoke to her about Anthony. Some time later, there came a day when Anthony was leaving for a trip. Something stirred up in Melissa's heart that she just needed to talk to him before he left. She invited him to breakfast. They both enjoyed their meal, but Anthony knew something was in the air. After their time together they got in his truck and before they were about to leave Melissa wanted to say something. She began to tell him that she was ready to date. Ecstatic, Anthony kept his cool and expressed how amazing those words were. He responded to her with one thing, "I have to ask your dad first." Deep down this is something Melissa really admired and only gave Anthony extra brownie points. After speaking with her father their adventure began. May 28th, 2022 Melissa and Anthony started dating. Fast forward six months later on November 23rd Anthony asked Melissa to marry him... she said yes!

For most of his life Anthony has lived with his mother's maiden last name which is Cabreros. Not thinking much of it or whether to change it he decided to keep it. As the years went on and as he got closer the Lord, he began to truly understand what it meant to honor. After years of dishonoring his father in certain aspects God convicted his heart and began to speak to him about honoring his father. That despite the past a true follower of Christ loves unconditionally. Anthony and Melissa now engaged and ready to be married have prayed about what to do. To honor the men that came before him, Anthony will now carry on the Sjostedt name.