The spark between Nichol and Danny ignited while they were miles apart. In all of his mysterious and miraculous ways, God used a sliver of time to show Danny that the girl he had been praying for years to enter his life was living across town in Fort Worth. Danny took his chance, crafted and sent a letter to Nichol, said a prayer, and waited for God to go to work. Nichol had many suitors whom she received letters from, but something stuck out about this one. Perhaps it was his stunning good looks or that he was the tall man she had always dreamed of – or more likely, maybe that’s where God began His work. Nichol decided to write Danny back, and from there they communicated every day and night about all the important and unimportant things in life. God continued working on both their hearts until sending letters to each other wasn’t enough. It was Valentine’s season 2022, and God had Cupid working overtime. Nichol and Danny were set to meet in person on February 15, the day after Valentine’s Day. They met at a French restaurant and had a wonderful first date, though Danny was disappointed because he didn’t get the kiss that the restaurant’s cuisine suggested he might receive. After a few more memorable dates, Nichol decided that Danny wasn’t so memorable, and that God’s plans for her did not include him. What Nichol didn’t know at the time was God had imprinted it on Danny’s heart to not let this one go. After months of attempts to stay in touch with Nichol (i.e. harassment), Danny was able to secure another date. With this unexpected chance at redemption, Danny planned perhaps the worst date of all time – a tennis match in 105 degree North Texas heat. Danny wanted to ensure their date would continue after tennis, so he got Nichol to agree to a bet that whoever won the match would get free dessert. Due to the heat, the match was going to be just one set of tennis. Danny lost the first set, and since he’s a sore loser he immediately doubled down and made the bet a “best of 3.” He would eventually win the match and the bet after 90 minutes of baking in the sun. Nichol was on the verge of passing out – either because she was so head over heels in love, or dehydrated. Who’s to say? The couple went and had their dessert, and like a true gentleman, Danny let Nichol pay. They would be a couple from here on out.

Countless dates, laughs, stories, and Bible studies ensued; and the once-hesitant Nichol had begun envisioning the rest of her life with Danny. So much so that she had planned the wedding in its entirety and communicated those plans for the wedding to everyone BUT her husband-to-be. Danny already knew that he was going to ask this girl to marry him, but after learning of his wedding was now in a panic because there was a deadline. You can’t get married until you propose, and it was set in stone that the wedding date would be August 24, 2023. Better get moving! Like all perfect, beautiful, and extremely well-calculated girlfriends, Nichol decided to increase Danny’s stress levels by dictating a series of requirements for her proposal. This was a blessing in disguise. Danny had one requirement – to surprise Nichol with the proposal, and with the wedding date set and a laundry list of proposal requirements, he knew with zero doubts he had to lean on God to help. The Good Lord was quick to respond, and his response came by way of the women closest to Nichol raising their hands to assist with the proposal. On a chilly Saturday night in January, Danny worked with the “Macaraeg Mothers” (Chinee, April, Jelynne, and Tita Beth who was on baby duty) to set up a breathtaking proposal setting at Jelynne’s new home. Nichol believed that the next day there was going to be a Chinese New Year celebration at Jelynne’s home, and that Danny couldn’t make it because watching the NFL playoffs with his friends was more important. Little did Nichol know that Danny would go and pick up Nichol’s mom (one of the proposal requirements) and go to Jelynne’s house and wait in the backyard in (what felt like) subzero temperatures, waiting for the opportunity to ask Nichol to be his wife. The plan worked flawlessly, and when Nichol opened the back door she uttered words to forever be remembered – “NO! I don’t like you I’m mad at you!!!” God can be so funny! Danny would eventually take Nichol’s hand, have a moment wherein the couple agreed to spend their lives together working every day to walk in the Lord’s way, and propose. Nichol’s “No” turned into a definitive “Yes”, and the couple’s walk with God was OFFICALLY set to begin later in 2023, with the grand finale being a wedding ceremony in Nichol’s native Philippines.