Thanks for watching the zoom meeting and we apologize that it cut out at the end, the internet connection was unstable and cut out.

"When you least expect it" It was another frozen, gray winter day in Chicago, and I had just finished the last final exam of my first semester of graduate school for occupational therapy. On my way out one of my professors stopped me to wish me happy holidays. "So, any plans with anyone? Any significant other you're spending the holidays with?" she asked. "Nope! Just friends and family. No boyfriend for me in the near future. I'm too busy for boys right now!" She just chuckled, "You never know! You'll find him when you least expect it".... (hmm. prophetical professor) The rest of the afternoon and evening was a blur of bouncing around the city celebrating with fellow 1st-semester survivors, then an ugly sweater Christmas party, and finally a farewell party with friends from church. By the end of the night, I was running on fumes of happy exhaustion and, notably, was still wearing a very ugly Christmas sweater. If it hadn't been for Karen Cardona lending me another sweater, I would have met Lenin wearing the 2017 series, award-winning, ugly sweater dress (I actually won an award, so yes, the ugliest). So I was on my way to meet my future husband with tired, puffy eyes, and a not-ugly sweater. We arrived at Benchmark for the get-together, and Karen introduced me to an old friend from Venezuelan. There he was, my tall, handsome, tan-blazer-wearing, future husband. Except I thought nothing of it until I saw him later perched at the edge of the room. (He’s an introvert, prone to occasional perching and people-watching). He seemed so quiet, serious — not my usual type. But I found myself chatting with him, and the conversation flowed… language, food, his travels, mine… until he went and swooped another girl out onto the dance floor for a few Salsa spins and said, “Así es! I like that my girl can dance!” So I went home thinking that she was his girl and reminding myself that I was too busy for boys anyways.

I started getting Instagram and Facebook messages from Lenin and finally an invitation to brunch at his house. “This guy!” I thought, “What is he thinking reaching out to me like this when he has a girlfriend?! Mujeriego!” But then matchmaker Karen set me straight again and told me that this girl, Erin;), was one of Lenin’s roommates, his not girlfriend. So I went to brunch at Lenin’s place with his friends, ate the otherworldly arepas and papelón con limón that he had prepared, sat with him at the high-top table, and exchanged life stories for hours. And I, the extroverted American girl, promptly fell in love with the introverted Venezuelan guy with the patient heart, the mischievous humor, the old soul, the endless love for God and family, and the very best Reina Pepiada arepas — the one I least expected, found when I least expected it. ~ Hannah

“Si mucho se planea, no hay espontaneidad,y entonces la clave; te puede quedar agua.” Nunca tuve pensado proponerle matrimonio a Hannah el día en que lo hice. Soy creyente acérrimo de que, en la espontaneidad, los momentos pueden tornarse en algo mágico... sublime. Verán, soy Venezolano, y como buen caribeño que soy, mi felicidad la encuentro en playas, zonas cálidas, etc . La Florida es el único lugar que conozco que puede brindarme un poquito de eso. Fue ahí donde pude comprender que, el mejor momento para proponerle matrimonio a Hannah tenía que ser en un momento en el que ambos pudiéramos estar en una etapa sui generis en nuestras vidas. Protección, regocijo, alegria, paz... Todas estas cosas las sentí en aquel viaje a Miami con Hannah. Y era menester llevar nuestra relación al siguiente nivel. Al poder verla con ojos que proyectaban nuestro futuro y descartando todo pensamiento de acción atávica, decidí ponerle el anillo un 1ro de enero del 2020, a las 12.05 am, junto con grandes amigos, en una noche común para muchos, pero indudablemente especial e inolvidable para ambos. Hannah es el mejor regalo que El Señor me ha dado. A Él le doy toda la gloria y agradecimiento por tan majestuoso regalo. Su inteligencia, amor a Dios, su afán por lograr lo imposible, su proyección y el ahínco e ímpetu con el que vive su vida, son unas de las tantas cualidades que me llenan de orgullo al llamar a Hannah “mi prometida”. Gracias a todos ustedes quienes nos apoyan y apoyarán en los días venideros. Esperamos que sigan formando parte de nuestras vidas. Como la futura Familia Márquez- Kwekel, este es nuestro deseo y esperamos que todos quienes nos acompañen, sean sus días llenos de gozo en las bienaventuranzas, y sabiduría y aprendizaje en las adversidades. Les amamos! Gracias... TOTALES!!!