El Sacramento del Matriomonio

I officially met José at the Catholic young adult ministry I was leading at my local church. The ministry aimed to get young adults closer to Christ and help build authentic friendships with other young Catholics. José attended some of the events in the ministry and we became friends. Soon, he started inviting me out and I attended his birthday party where I met his immediate family. José had the bravery to invite me out in person to several dates. His courage to invite me on dates and be a true gentleman captured my heart. Back when I lived in Orlando and attended the Basilica of Mary Queen of the Universe in the Summer 2017, I lit a white candle and asked Jesus for my future husband for a man who would practice chastity and love me for the virtues that I valued (a little afraid this wasn't in my future but willing to accept God's plan for me). I met José almost two years later outside the church's parking lot and here we are preparing for the Sacrament of Matrimony at our very own local church St. Bernadette's Catholic Church 2025. Fun fact: 4-6 years before meeting José I wrote a letter to God asking Him for a husband who had met my brother. Thinking that was a long shot because I thought I already knew everyone in my hometown. Little did I know, I would meet José & he would one day tell me he had memories with my brother...funny stories...just like I remember my brother. I first met Annay back in high school. I used to catch rides home with my friend Omar who was dating Annay's sister and would take them home (My friend and Annay's sister eventually got married). Omar didn’t have a parking permit, so we always had to park at the bottom of the hill—far from the school. One day, Annay was carrying a ton of books, and she sarcastically said, “Thanks, José, for helping me with my books!” At first, I didn’t realize she needed help, but once she pointed it out, I tried to grab them from her. Of course, she refused, saying the only reason I was offering was because she had called me out. I insisted and grabbed the books anyway. I don’t think she ever said thank you, and honestly, she didn’t talk to me much after that. For a whole year, we rode home together in the back of Omar’s truck and never exchanged any words. After high school, I ran into her a couple of times. She came to El Nopal, where I worked as a waiter, but still didn’t speak to me—apparently, because she thought I was a "presumido". Another time, I saw her at Kroger while I was at a self-checkout, and I couldn’t help but notice how beautiful she’d become. I thought to myself, I have no chance with her. Years later, our paths crossed again through a young adult ministry she coordinated at our local church. She invited me to the Eucharist Congress in Atlanta where they had wine and asked everyone if they would like to try a glass of wine. Someone said it was too late and I said I really wished that you guys could’ve tried it, Annay replied we can have a glass of wine some other time. By her saying these words, I realized that she wanted to go just me and her maybe. Not long after, we had a long, meaningful conversation over wine at Olive Garden, and just a few days later, I asked her to be my girlfriend while sitting at a Peek Park bench.