Michael & Kayla had been around each other several times over the few years prior to their story’s beginning, from Henei Ma Tov dance workshops (2013 & 2015), to eventually both attending the summer youth camp, Camp Yeshua (2014-2019). Though they had been at some of the same gatherings & events, they hadn’t really interacted with each other until Kayla’s parents hosted Michael the weekend after camp in July 2017. During the week of camp that year, they took notice of each other, knowing that Michael would be staying at the Musson house the following weekend. They were both curious about one another, but neither initiated conversation. Every night at camp, everyone would gather in the rec field for what is called starlight dance, where we had Hebraic dancing under the stars, before everyone went to their dorms to get ready for bed. On the last night of camp, during starlight dance, Kayla noticed that Michael was dancing next to her in the circle. Instead of taking that opportunity to talk to him after the song ended, Kayla continued to keep to herself. She didn’t see him again until the next day, while everyone was scrambling to leave the camp. Fast forward through the weekend, Michael went with the Mussons to an after-camp party, and their curiosity toward one another continued to grow. When the night was over, Kayla was invited to sleep over with some friends, and Michael went back home with the Mussons for his last night in town. At the sleepover, Kayla was on Facebook looking through her friend requests & decided to send a friend request herself. When Michael woke up the next morning, while he was waiting to go home, he saw that Kayla had sent him a friend request to which he accepted, & followed up with a private message, saying thanks for the add & that it was nice getting to know her family better. The conversation between the two started out slow-going, but gradually, a friendship formed. Over the next year, Michael & Kayla continued growing their friendship & their families connected on a few occasions as well. Michael stayed at the Mussons after Camp Yeshua again in 2018. Kayla was going through a difficult chapter in her life at that time. When Michael became aware after camp that year, he made the decision that he would be there for her through everything, no matter how bad things got in the future. In September of 2018, Michael & some of his family celebrated a few days of Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles) with the Mussons. Michael & Kayla’s last get-together had been a little awkward due to timidness, so when the Cameros arrived at the campgrounds, Kayla’s dad, Daniel decided to jump in & help eliminate some of that timid awkwardness. Daniel presented the matter as “okay, look, Michael likes Kayla, Kayla likes Michael, let’s not be awkward anymore.” & that was that.

After getting a steady job at the end of 2019, and a more reliable car in the spring of 2020, Michael decided that the streak of 9 long months without seeing Kayla needed to end. So, for Kayla’s 19th birthday, Michael made a trip to Norman, OK where The Mussons had recently relocated from Oklahoma City, to spend the weekend with her and her family. Two weeks after their visit, Michael returned, along with his mother and sister, for Kayla’s Graduation party. Michael & Kayla got to spend half of Sukkot together in 2020, where they got to have one of their first meaningful conversations about what their future together might look like. By then, both knew that they loved each other, but it was left unspoken, until the time was right. Kayla also made her first trip to Texas with just her sister, Lindsay, to visit Michael and his family in March of 2021. They made the trip to Texas again in September of 2021. Michael and Kayla continued to visit each other more often. With Kayla making her first solo trip to Texas in March of 2022, while Michael made a tradition of spending Kayla’s birthday with her and her family in Oklahoma (2020, 2021, 2022). In October of 2021, Michael went up to Oklahoma for a weekend to go to a concert with Kayla, her dad, two of her sisters, and a good friend. After another memorable visit, it was time to say “Goodbye” yet again. This time, it was really, really hard to part. This drew them closer. Slowly, they learned to be more open about how they feel about each other. There was a shift in conversations, coupled with something like a “Turning Point”. Time went on, Michael & Kayla grew even closer, & eventually they each considered the other to be their best friend.

On December 18th, 2022 Michael & his mother, Lilia, had a meeting with Daniel, Kayla’s father, in Tyler, Texas. Meanwhile, Kayla & the rest of her family were in the process of packing their belongings from Norman, OK, in order to move to Tyler. At this meeting, Michael & Lilia asked Daniel for Kayla’s hand in marriage. With Daniel’s blessing, Michael started to plan how he would propose to the love of his life, Kayla. Michael wrote a song for Kayla in November of 2022, but kept it a secret knowing he’d sing it to her when he proposed. Michael coordinated with his mother and a few of his siblings as well as Daniel to make sure everyone who was able, could be in Tyler when he proposed. Finally, on December 26, 2022, Michael took Kayla, her sisters, Lindsay & Ashley, & his sister, Leah, bowling. After bowling, he asked Kayla if she was willing to go to the park to “take pictures”. Kayla thought it unusual, but agreed to go nonetheless. After walking through the park and taking pictures, Michael pulled out his guitar and sang the song he wrote for Kayla as her back was turned toward the parking area where their families quietly approached. After finishing the song, he hugged her and let her know how much she meant to him. And told her he had a very important question to ask her. She said “Yes!”, and now they are excited to celebrate with you!