"Man, it wasn't nothin' like that first time She was in my math class Long hair, brown skin with the fat ass" - J. Cole We love the reaction we get when people ask, "how did you meet each other?" and our answer is, "well we've known each other since middle school." We met for the first time in Mr. Hui's 7th grade algebra class. We went from strangers to 13-year-old best friends, and that was the beginning of us growing up and growing old together. These J.Cole lyrics remind us of meeting in math class (minus the fat ass, haha!)

Fast forward from 7th grade to Rizelle's 17th birthday -- two kids, best friends who kissed in a tent on a camping trip, just the beginning. That summer led into a fun senior year together. We graduated a year later, and that's when two kids quickly turned into two young adults figuring out where this relationship would lead. With long distance, the military, and figuring out our next steps, that was where our growth really rooted.

On our 4th anniversary, we "eloped" in San Jose. Young at 21, dressed in white, with Rizelle's dad and brother as witnesses, we simply exchanged vows in a courthouse, and celebrated with breakfast at Bill's Cafe afterwards. It was a bittersweet moment, as we oddly thought we needed to keep our marriage a secret, but we were so incredibly happy and in love. Our long distance relationship was soon about to end, and we'd both be in San Diego, CA, to start our lives together.

It's no secret that we're two low key people -- no extravagance necessary, no need for attention or eyes on us. That definitely was not the case when Jimmy came home from an 8-month deployment, where he schemed to have all the readily available military homecoming photographers surround us, and get down on one knee to propose in the middle of the parking lot. Cheeks flushed, in a hurry to say "yes" and pull him up off the ground before anyone else noticed, he shot his fist up in the air and shouted at the top of his lungs "SHE SAID YES!" Needless to say, there were many eyes on us, but Jimmy was home, and he pulled off an incredible surprise. Let's get to celebrating already!

We can't imagine June 10, 2022, without you! This date will finally be the day we get to celebrate life and love, with those we love most. On our wedding day, we will be celebrating 11 years together, 7 years married, and Rizelle's birthday! Thank you for being a part of our lives, our love, our celebration. "Oh my heart hurts so good, I love you babe, so bad." - lany