Our love story started way before we met on April 1, 2023. About three years ago, both of us decided that we needed to change the way we were living. Those three years were times of pruning, laying a new foundation, and building a strong confidence and trust in the Lord. We changed our criteria of what we were looking for in a partner, and we were trusting that the Lord would provide a partner that strived to love God first...plus all the other things we wanted in a relationship. We tried to like people in those three years of growing in our faith, but no one seemed to fit what we knew God planted in our hearts. Fast forward to 2023, we both decided to go the extra mile for Lent and prepare for Easter. I (Alan) participated in Exodus 90, which is a 90 day program of growing in the faith through prayer, fasting, and letting go of modern day comforts (like taking cold showers). AND I (Laura) also went through a 90 day program called Fiat 90 to prepare myself for Easter. While the woman's program is not as extreme as the men's, it was 90 days of increased prayer, fasting, and letting go of worldly comforts like social media, TV, and eating out. We took our programs seriously trying to grow in faith and adoration of our Lord, and God rewarded us by matching us on Catholic Match on Saturday April 1, 2023---right at the start of Holy Week. Although our initial message was pretty basic (because how slick can you be through an outdated messaging app???), our communication quickly went from paragraph long messages back and forth to daily FaceTime calls. We weren't asking superficial questions like what's your favorite color and when's your birthday. We dived in and asked about our goals, what we want in the future, our faith life, and so much more. We were both able to carry a conversation so naturally, and our values and goals aligned in every way. However, because of Laura, we almost ended right off the rip because Alan has the gift of gab. On our second phone call ever, Laura said she wasn't sure how she felt about the conversation, and needed to marinate on it. I (Alan) was scared things were going south, and asked her if she wanted to pray. She said yes, we hung up the phone, and I (Alan) woke up to an 8 page text the next morning basically saying I talked too much, but she was willing to give it a go. I made sure the next time we spoke, I gave her plenty of room to speak. Needless to say, she was happy that I was receptive to her feedback and took immediate action. Turning to prayer was present at every step of our walk towards marriage, and praise God it was! We know ya'll want all the TEA (that's gossip for those who don't know....) (This is Alan...sorry Laura is a high school teacher and thinks she's cool...), so let's talk about the first time we met in person. Alan was looking for flights two weeks after we started talking because he was smitten by me. I'm not going lie...I was smitten as well. After two weeks, Alan booked a ticket to come see me at the end of April. To paint the perfect picture for you all, we're going to give Alan's version and Laura's version of how it all went down:

Laura: *It should be noted that I had started a 7 Sorrows Rosary group that meets weekly to pray the 7 Sorrows Rosary for the intention of obtaining good Catholic husbands.* We were clearly crackheads before we met because we were already exchanging "I love yous" and "I miss yous" to each other, but I would always throw in the "for now” to keep myself in check. didn't want to be overly romantic, but I did make a sign and taped it to my car window, so Alan would know it was me. At the airport, I went in for the kill and kissed Alan right away. It was awesome. That was pretty much the moment I knew that I was going to marry him. He made me feel calm and at peace because he was easygoing and lighthearted. We went to a bar, and we played Cribbage and ate wings. He didn't judge me for eating the cartilage so I knew he was the right guy for me. Even more affirming, I had gotten sick at night when we went out to dinner, and I couldn't drive him back to his hotel. I told him to take my car and pick me up in the morning for church, but he told me that he didn't want to leave me without a car, and he called an uber. What a gentlemen! The best part was going to mass with him. When we went to receive communion, he stepped back and let me go in front of him. I've always wanted a man who would put me first going for communion just the way my dad did. The final sign that Alan was definitely meant to be my husband was that my mom loved him right away. I told him I wanted to get married on the Feast Day of Our Lady of Sorrows since she is totally the reason why we met, and he agreed. Our parents gave us their blessings, and it is a wrap after that! Alan: Booking the flight was one of the easiest decisions of my life. Laura may have had some doubts (or was at least realistic), I did not have any! I knew in my heart and felt good mentally that she was it and seeing her in person was just another formality that I was very much looking forward to. I boarded the plane wearing a full suit (needed a suit for Sunday mass and didn't want it to wrinkle in my bag). I prayed on the plane that our first meeting would go well and that we would not have an awkward start to our first but short visit. When Laura arrived to pick me up from the airport she truly took my breath away! She was even more beautiful than what I already thought she was on facetime. As far as the awkwardness I was praying about, she kissed me right off the rip and all was finally right in the world for me. Of course, I loved all the other parts like beating her at her favorite game, eating wings together (we both love wings), meeting Laura's Mother, and of course going to mass together for the first time. We jelled so much better than what I ever would have imagined; I left without a shadow of doubt that this girl was going to be my wife, if she was going to have me. Fast forward to the Feast Day of Our Lady of Fatima, Alan flew out on a surprise visit to Laura. At 7AM in the morning, while I (Laura) was getting ready for church, Alan knocked on the door. I didn't hear through the blasting of my music, until I got a text saying, "aren't you going to answer your door?" Shocked (and naked), I threw on some clothes, and opened the door! I couldn't believe he was at my door since we FaceTimed the night before, and he was definitely in Ohio!!! He got down on one knee, and said, "Laura Georgena Persaud, I love you. I've waited, prayed, and prepared my whole life for a woman like you. I want to take you, our kids, and myself to Heaven if you will have me. Will you be my wife?" How can a girl say no to a proposal like that?!? We called Laura's mom since she was in on the whole surprise to begin with, and then we went to mass to celebrate. It was truly the perfect proposal. There's so much more to our love story, but this is the gist. The Lord is working in us and through us, and we pray He never takes His hands off of us.