Our Story
Question
How Did We Meet?
Answer
We met on Upward - a Christian dating app! After a few unsuccessful dates with other people, we matched with each other and began chatting!
Question
How Did We Match?
Answer
On Upward, our profiles had aspects that we both enjoyed: unique and thought-out responses, great photos, an evident relationship with the Lord, and a sense of levity and humor. After matching, we had a great conversation where we asked each other intentional questions. We planned our first date soon after we matched.
Question
What Was Our First Date?
Answer
Initially, we planned to go to Mama D's since Virginia shared that Italian food is one of her favorite cuisines. Unfortunately, James' car broke down on the drive from Loma Linda to Orange County and, despite his best efforts to repair it, the car was unsalvageable. Without a car, James was uncertain that he could reschedule the date. But after much deliberation, he was encouraged to share his phone number with Virginia and keep the relationship alive. After an introductory phone call (which went really well), James discovered that he could take Metrolink to Orange County and rescheduled a date with Virginia to go to the Anaheim Packing District. We had lunch and got to know each other, enjoying the date so much that we wanted a second one.
Question
How Did We Get Engaged?
Answer
On December 7, 2024, Virginia travelled to Loma Linda and we went to the spot where we said that we love each other for the first time. With the help of our friend Nate (who was recording the proposal and later took our engagement photos), James proposed to Virginia, who emphatically said yes.
Question
How Did We Know We Wanted To Marry Each Other?
Answer
Right from our first date, there was an undeniable level of compatibility between us - there was an ease and joy in our conversation that we recognized was special. By our second date, we witnessed characteristics of the other person that we valued and discussed what we wanted for our futures, individually and together. Within two months of dating, we had introduced each other to most of our family and close friends. Additionally, we had spoken to some experienced couples that gave us insight into the makings of a successful relationship. The wisdom we gained from these couples and seeing how compatible we were with each other's people were very apparent green lights. It felt like we were intentional with our relationship from the very beginning and we grew together in a way that helped us feel confident to continue sharing our lives together.