We're getting married!

Of all the sports I like to play, I never thought that Kickball would end up being my favorite. This isn’t because I really like this game, but because it was how I ended up meeting my favorite person and bride-to-be, Mariana. Mari signed up for this intramural kickball team with her medical school friends and I did with some of my good buddies. As I arrived for the first few games in our league, I saw this incredibly cute gal in her white shirt accompanied by her well-behaved and adorable dog, Alana. Alana made for a much more smooth (or so I thought) opportunity for me to converse with Mari. This happened for a couple weeks in a row before I gathered Mari’s name and found her third down on the list after a quick instagram search of “Mariana”. It helped that we live in a gringo city with not many Mariana’s :). A quick DM later (meaning several attempts over the course of the next 7-8 months of being kind, sweet and determined) we set up our first date for May 13th, 2023. Some of my good buddies wanted me to reschedule our first date so we could keep having a fun “guys day”, but I was too excited for what potential our date could have, and I’m so glad we both kept our word and went out that first night. Mari showed up looking so cute in a white top and stylish bluejeans. We went to a local gem of a bar, La Rev, and sat out back through the Tiki Hut for drinks while we had a great time learning about one another and our cultures. Our date went so well that we popped over to two other spots before a wonderful and sentimental walk back to Mari’s car. I remember the night so fondly with how wonderful our conversation was and how our expectations of our time together were exceeded. I love Mariana Alejandra Mena Latuff with my whole heart and have prayed for her, along with many of my family and friends, for many years. I’m so excited to marry her and spend the rest of my life in love, adventure and growth with her by my side. I cannot wait to celebrate with you all as we blend cultures and celebrate something God has blessed us with!