A Match Made in Heaven! ¡Una Pareja Hecha En El Cielo!

The words "a match made in heaven" have been used to describe many things throughout history. But never before has that description applied more than to the relationship we will be celebrating on July 19, 2024 of Jacob Hernandez and Julissa Arteaga. On March of 1999, Ruben and Diana Hernandez welcomed to the world Jacob. Only one year later, on April of 2000, Julian and Trinidad Arteaga welcomed Julissa. Twenty-four years later, on July 19, 2024, Jacob and Julissa are excited to begin the next chapter of their lives together. Jacob and Julissa are happy to celebrate their wedding at the same place they met: Templo Eben-Ezer in Brownsville, TX. They met as mere children, unaware of the love and joy that God had planned for their lives through each other. Through childhood and early adolescence, Jacob and Julissa's relationship would evolve as their friendship grew stronger. Although they may have attended different schools, participated in different extracurriculars, and maintained different friend circles, God played a major part in the lives of young Jacob and Julissa and, as a result, Jacob and Julissa found themselves consistently seeing each other, working together, and acting as kids their age are want to do. It is a surprise to no one that Jacob and Julissa would develop harmless childhood crushes on each other–crushes that continue to this day. Also a surprise to no one, child Jacob and Julissa did not know how to express their affections for each other. But that did not stop them from trying to the best of their abilities: with Jacob trying to be funny and Julissa pretending that he wasn't. And little did they know that they would spend the rest of their lives with Jacob trying to be funny and Julissa now pretending that he is. December 19, 2015–this day marks the first major milestone in their relationship since their meeting. Not too dissimilar to many days throughout the years, Jacob was enchanted by Julissa's voice as she performed a recital. And with a determination brought about by that enchantment, Jacob found the courage to ask Julissa to be his girlfriend, and Julissa accepted. For a year and two months, Jacob and Julissa enjoyed a happy, loving relationship. But God had planned a period of individual growth and maturing. With Jacob's departure to Houston for university imminent, and long-distance relationships being notorious for causing incredible strain on a relationship, God allowed Jacob and Julissa to grow and mature on their own. While not in a dating relationship, the affection between Jacob and Julissa did anything but dwindle–only growing stronger. And some time apart helped them appreciate each other and the positivity they each added to each other's lives more than ever before. On August 19, 2019, Jacob and Julissa could remain apart no longer. After two years apart, their love had only grown stronger. Their time apart showed them how much they truly meant to each other and that they were meant to be together. And they knew that no amount of distance between them nor time apart would stop them from loving each other. In fact, no matter the circumstances, they would only love each other more and more. A short four years later, Jacob and Julissa were ready for the next step of their relationship. God had put them through college and brought them both back to Brownsville. All that was left was for them to officially upgrade from dating to engaged. On the morning of December 16, 2023, Jacob and Julissa went to their favorite place–the beach–at their not so favorite time–before the sun had even risen. And although the weather was not perfect proposal weather, Jacob and Julissa did not need it. All they needed was each other and the love for each other that God had placed in their hearts. And that is all they will need from their "I do's" for the rest of their lives.

Desde que se conocieron como niños en la iglesia hasta que se casaron como adultos en la misma iglesia, esta historia de amor parece escrita por la mano misma de Dios. La frase "una pareja hecha en el cielo" ha sido usada a lo largo de la historia para describir varias relaciones, pero rara vez ha encajado tan perfectamente como en la unión que celebraremos el 19 de julio de 2024 entre Jacob Hernández y Julissa Arteaga. En marzo de 1999, Rubén y Diana Hernández dieron la bienvenida a Jacob al mundo. Solo un año después, en abril de 2000, Julián y Trinidad Arteaga celebraron la llegada de Julissa. Veinticuatro años más tarde, el 19 de julio de 2024, Jacob y Julissa están ansiosos por comenzar este nuevo capítulo juntos. El lugar de su boda, el Templo Eben-Ezer en Brownsville, TX, es también el lugar donde se conocieron como niños. En aquel entonces, no podían imaginar el amor y la alegría que Dios tenía reservados para ellos a través del otro. A medida que crecían, su relación evolucionaba con su amistad. Aunque asistieron a diferentes escuelas, participaron en diferentes actividades y mantuvieron diferentes círculos de amigos, Dios jugó un papel importante en la vida de los jóvenes Jacob y Julissa y, como resultado, ellos se encontraron constantemente viéndose, trabajando juntos y actuando como los niños de su edad quieren hacer. No es una sorpresa para nadie que ellos desarrollaran enamoramientos inofensivos de la infancia el uno del otro, enamoramientos que continúan hasta el día de hoy. Tampoco fue una sorpresa para nadie, en su niñez no sabían cómo expresar su afecto el uno por el otro. Pero eso no impidió que lo intentaran lo mejor que pudieran: Jacob tratando de ser gracioso y Julissa fingiendo que no lo era. Y poco sabían que pasarían el resto de sus vidas con Jacob tratando de ser gracioso y Julissa ahora fingiendo que lo es. El 19 de diciembre de 2015 marcó un hito importante en su relación. Durante un recital, Jacob quedó encantado por la voz de Julissa y, con valentía, le pidió que fuera su novia, a lo que ella aceptó. Durante un año y dos meses, disfrutaron de una relación feliz, pero Dios tenía otros planes. Con la partida de Jacob a Houston para la universidad, Dios les permitió crecer individualmente. Aunque no estaban oficialmente juntos, su afecto solo se fortaleció durante su tiempo separados. Esta separación les mostró lo importante que eran el uno para el otro y que estaban destinados a estar juntos. El 19 de agosto de 2019, después de dos años separados, Jacob y Julissa se reunieron nuevamente, su amor más fuerte que nunca. Cuatro años después, estaban listos para el siguiente paso: comprometerse. En la mañana del 16 de diciembre de 2023, en su lugar favorito, la playa, antes del amanecer, se comprometieron. No necesitaban un escenario perfecto, solo el amor mutuo que Dios había sembrado en sus corazones. El 19 de julio de 2024, cuando digan "sí, acepto", sabrán que están sellando un pacto que Dios ha forjado desde el principio. Una historia de amor que solo Dios pudo haber escrito.