It was the first day of freshman year of high school. As I walked into my first class, a kind face stood out among all the familiar faces I knew from middle school. A boy with long, curly hair and a bright smile held the door open for everyone on their way in, saying “Good morning!” to some and “Hello!” to others. I immediately noticed how kind and genuine he was, and I knew I wanted to get to know him. In the weeks that followed, I gave Isaac my phone number in case he ever needed help with homework—secretly hoping it would help him remember my name. After a month of being in class together, he would still ask and double-check, and I was so embarrassed that I started pretending I thought his name was Isaiah. I still have my suspicions that this was a tactic to make me think of him more, but Isaac just says he's not the best with names. Not long after, we began texting daily and quickly became best friends. He took me to Winter Formal—our very first date ever. Then, on December 15th of our junior year of high school, he asked me to be his girlfriend while we were looking at Christmas lights in his neighborhood. This question began the official start of our journey together. Over five years Isaac has never failed to lead me to the Lord, celebrate my accomplishments, help me through hard times, and be a rock for myself and my family. I will never forget seeing photo updates of him just going to visit my Nana B while she was sick and I was away on my study abroad trip over the summer. Even in my absence, he loved my family and was a rock for them when they needed his bright smile, positivity, and helping hands the most. That's just who Isaac is, someone who loves to serve others as much as he serves the Lord. He shows me this in how he speaks to me, treats me, and cherishes our relationship. My college roommates can definitely attest to the bi-weekly flower delivery that blessed our apartment all four years of college. This small glimpse into his actions display how consistent in character he has been since the day I met him. That kindness, smile, work ethic, love for God and service of others has never faded and only grown since I have known him. It has been such a blessing to grow up together, and we are so grateful that the Lord has had His hand over our relationship, guiding our steps every day. We are so excited to enter this new chapter of married life and give all the glory to Him. He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord. — Proverbs 18:22 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen. — Romans 11:36

From the very beginning, my high school experience was different. I was the only freshman in my academic program who hadn’t come from Cedar Middle School with the rest of the cohort, but looking back, I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Let me take you back to the first day I met my future wife. Because I was new, I never got the memo that the summer project assigned during the ACE program application wasn’t actually required. So there I was, day one, standing in front of a room full of strangers, being told to present something no one else had done. Nerve-wracking doesn’t even begin to cover it. The lights were off, and the projector was shining directly at my face. I could barely see anything, except for one person. She was sitting right in the center of the classroom. Her hair was down, styled in two braids pinned together in the back like a crown, something I had never seen before. She wore a green long-sleeve shirt. She was absolutely beautiful. And she was smiling at me. That was Emily. What started as a moment turned into a friendship, and that friendship became so much more. She became my best friend and an answered prayer, a woman who loves the Lord, who is selfless, kind, and incredibly intelligent. From texting about homework, to going to school dances, to dating in our junior year… through college, and now into engagement, I can honestly say I am a blessed man. Thank you, God, for blessing me with such a strong, beautiful, and caring fiancée. I can’t wait to marry her and spend the rest of my life with her.