It was the year 2009. Kathy had just moved from Honduras to Clewiston to start her 5th grade year at Central Elementary School. One day, she saw a student wearing a neon yellow Safety Patrol belt and like most 5th graders, she decided she wanted to become one too. She met Joel McCray at the first Safety Patrol meeting around November 2010. He was the cutest American boy she had ever seen. She would see him carrying a Spiderman lunchbox and always remembered him as the "cute Safety Patrol boy with the Spiderman lunchbox". She didn't get to share the same classes as him till 7th grade. That year began the start of a long friendship. From being his Secret Santa to competing in spelling bees (which Kathy won) and science fairs (which Joel won), their friendship was always one full with laughter and okra (Kathy didn't like the school version of okra but Joel clearly did). They rode the same bus together in both middle school (158) and high school (203) but Kathy always sat in front of Joel almost every day for six years. During their bus ride, Kathy would turn around to talk to Joel just about anything she had in mind while he played on his Nintendo 3DS. Next to him would sit one of their best friends Lazna (groomsman) and he was the first one to witness the start of their love and care for one another. It was on October 25, 2016 when he texted her around 11PM that he liked her but at the same he hoped that the way he felt for her wouldn't ruin their friendship. But little did they both know that it would be the start of a new chapter. One where they would attend the same university and spend the next four years building brand new memories together. Despite the busy college schedules each one had, they would try to ride the RTS bus together to school or study at Marston together to spend time with each other. They are thankful that both God and the University of Florida decided to give them both the opportunity to experience this college journey together.

Hutchison Island was always a place Kathy treasured as it was the first McCray family vacation (of many) that she attended. It was the first beach Joel and Kathy had ever been to together and they enjoyed walking along the shore while engaging in meaningful conversations. Fast forward to a couple of years later, Joel would be proposing at the same beach. It all started with a simple walk along the beach and Kathy getting ahead to stare at the beautiful ocean. When she turned around to talk to Joel, she saw him in one knee holding a box. It was the easiest yes she had ever said and the quickest one too.

The original wedding date was October 16, 2021. Life has its twists and turns but due to unforeseen circumstances, both Kathy and Joel had to come up with a new wedding date and a new wedding venue. They found the most magical Mediterranean-looking venue in Sarasota, Florida. The only downside was that their original wedding date was no longer available. They were offered four different dates and they decided to choose Friday December 17, 2021 as their new wedding date. A short Saturday trip to Mayo, Florida where part of Joel's extended family resides, they realized that their new wedding date was actually another family member's wedding date. To make things even more amusing, Joel's family members who had gotten married on December 17 also got married on a Friday. Finally, the best surprise of all was that Uncle Bunk and Aunt Bob will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary the same day Joel and Kathy celebrate their wedding day. November is a popular month for weddings in Joel's family but it looks like December 17 is starting to become a new rival. Uncle Bunk and Aunt Bob's marriage of almost 50 years serves as an example for many to follow including us. They are two loving, caring, and faithful individuals that show what it is like to have unity and oneness in their marriage. The secret of a happy marriage is to serve God and each other which they perfectly demonstrate on a daily basis. Both of their smiles can light up a whole neighborhood because a room itself falls short. Knowing that we get to share our wedding anniversary with both Uncle Bunk and Aunt Bob for the rest of our lives is truly an amazing wedding gift from God.