I can remember the first time we met each other. I was slouched down on a couch in Ivan's living room when she strutted by nonchalantly. Like she owned the place. When i asked Anel ( Ivan's sister, who happens to be Grace's BFF) why she had never introduced us in all the years of me coming over, she told me her house was too complicated to give directions to and iphone's didn't exist yet. Flash forward through two wonderful years of pretending to like running, many fun trance and metal shows and then we are Facebook official. Things have changed for the better for both of us since then. Grace did her good deed to humanity by doing cancer research and now makes fancy clothes. I went from working 16 hour nursing shifts to manufacturing design. We grew together. And now I look forward to honoring my vows and growing old with Grace and our future children. -Jon

One bright and sunny Sunday we were at Grace's Parents house for our weekly lunch. As we stuffed our faces with delicious food the subject of marriage came up. Grace's Mother looked at me and told me that in Guatemala it is customary to give a dowry for a bride to be. Her Mother turned to look right at me with a stern expression. She said "in Guatemala you would owe me a cow and a handful of chickens to take my daughter's hand in marriage." Upon hearing this i laughed out loud and then slowly realized that she was only half kidding. Looking over to Mr. Jimenez i could see him nodding in agreement. I didn't know where i would get a cow, but my mind was set: i was going to give them their livestock. I already had the perfect rose gold ring, that i picked without any guidance at all. I was set. The next day I camped outside her Parent's house attempting to deliver the dowry to her father and ask for Grace's hand in marriage. Only he didn't show up. I tried again the next day. He had a doctors appointment her mother said, and wasn't coming back until late in the evening. My plan was crumbling. I had one last chance before the big day. Now or never. Finally i was able to deliver the dowry to her Father. I ambushed him after waiting in the car. I called out to him when he was walking up the driveway. "I would like to ask for your daughter's hand in marriage", I said. Then i took a white a red bag out from my side. Inside was his dowry: a cow or at least part of a cow. I presented him with his favorite burger: An In-N-Out double double cheeseburger. I said to him, " I don't know where i can buy a cow but i figured this is as close as we can get." We both laughed. He accepted my proposal and i beamed a huge smile back at him. I showed him the ring and he approved of that as well. I told him he's a hard man to get a hold of. And thats how i asked for Grace's hand in marriage. I learned a valuable lesson that day. Grace is worth at LEAST one barn worth of animals.