I first met Valerie attending Bible college in the fall of 2016. We were definitely off in our own worlds, busy serving on our bus routes, going to class, and spending time with different friend groups. One Wednesday night, I took the day off from work to attend church. Church had ended, and I was busy conversing with friends when Valerie walked by and said, "Hi Jarred." At the time, I remember thinking, "Wow! She's really pretty, and how does she know my name?" I said hi back, and she walked away, never realizing at that time she would be my future wife. Eight years later, on Dec 7th, 2024, we reconnected on social media and started a conversation and a friendship that just kept going, and I found myself texting her day and night. In February of 2025, I took my first trip to see Valerie in Los Angeles, CA, where she lived. I don't think I've ever been so nervous in my life, and as I drove, I prayed that if it were God's will, He would show me and make it obvious. I can tell you, when I saw Valerie waiting for me outside her house, my heart stopped. She was the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen in my entire life. She was right there in front of me in college, but God's plan was perfect, and He allowed me to find Valerie in His time. 8 years seems like a long time, but nothing else mattered after that day. Over the course of that year, I asked Valerie to become my girlfriend in May, said "I love you" in August, and finally asked her to become my wife exactly 1 year later while we were celebrating our 1st anniversary.

It was the fall of 2016 that I entered my second year at Bible college. Throughout that year, I made new friends, got involved in some of the college's activities, and in the bus ministry. In college, there was a tall blonde guy who would walk around campus, and I would see him with mutual friends. His name was Jarred Hall, and I would hear about him through mutual friends, but I never would have thought he would become my future husband. During that college time, we only spoke once, and I just said a quick "Hi Jarred," and that was it, not realizing that years would pass and that later he would be my fiancé. After Bible college, I went back home with my family, and in June of 2017, we moved back to our home state, California. There was a long seven-year gap during which God was teaching me patience and to work on my spiritual life. Yes, not going to lie, those seven years were hard, but they taught me that everything happens in God's timing and is worth it. In June 2024, while at a youth camp, I remember a girl coming up to me during free time and asking if I was talking to someone. I told her no. I told her that I was enjoying life and just waiting on God's timing, that I was not in a rush to date or get married, and that when the time comes, it would happen. Fast-forwarding six months to December, I remember being on Facebook and seeing a story from Jarred about a field, with the caption "the next four years would be great" and an American flag emoji. I remember replying and telling Jarred I was excited for our country, and the rest is HISTORY. Throughout our dating and engagement, the Lord has really blessed our relationship through friends and family, and we are excited and looking forward to getting married in just a few months. It has been worth the wait. October 30th can't come any sooner!