Now that you’ve viewed our proposal video, we’d like to share the experience from each of our points of view. We each experienced this unforgettable moment in our own way, and we are excited to give you a glimpse into what was going through our minds during such a special time.

Lorenzo and I were packed and ready to head out to St. Lucia to celebrate Carl and Tracy's 35th wedding anniversary. We were flying out of DFW airport, settling in at the gate, and waiting for our plane to board. Our terminal had just switched from Terminal D, where soft, mellow music played and people lounged in quiet anticipation, to Terminal C, where bright sunlight streamed through huge windows and the bustling energy of travelers filled the air. We were settling in when Lorenzo, in his usual calm way, stood up and said he was going to head to the restroom.

When we arrived at the original terminal and gate, I thought, this isn't going as I pictured. There's no one here, it’s dark, and lifeless. What kind of experience would that be? Also, I was hoping to get assistance from others in the airport. I started to consider asking at a different time, maybe in St Lucia; no, because I didn't want to take away from Carl's and Tracy celebration. Maybe some time after we returned. The change to gates was more than welcomed.

When Lorenzo walked away to head to the restroom, I continued getting my devices charged and making sure I had my boarding pass and passport. I remember thinking that Lorenzo had been gone for a while, but I rationalized it, thinking maybe he’d decided to get his shoes shined before we boarded.

As we were walking to our new gate I was relieved to see tons of people and that it was lively. I was scouting out friendly faces and was looking for our gate agent who was not there. After we settled in at the gate I excused myself to the “restroom", but I was actually going to recruit assistance from the gate agent and a friendly passenger.

After Lorenzo returned several minutes later, I heard my name being called over the PA system, asking me to bring my documents with me. I was hoping there wasn’t any problem with my reservation.

On my “restroom" run, I was on the hunt scouting for assistance. I wasn't concerned about the time I was taking because she knows that my restroom trips can take a little time. ;) On my scouting trip, I found an agent and fellow passenger willing and eager to assist. I had drafted directions for each; I wanted the agent to call her up to the gate and question her about her documents, and I needed my fellow traveler to play the first 40 seconds of a song and record it on my phone.

I walked to the counter and handed the attendant my boarding pass. She then asked for my passport. As I was doing so, I heard a familiar tune start to play over what I thought was the airport’s sound system. The first note was so clear and unmistakably—our song. I turned toward the direction where I had left Lorenzo sitting, pointing to the speakers above to indicate that “Hello Love” was playing. I was surprised to see him standing nearby, but I thought he had come to make sure everything was okay. As I turned back to the attendant, I could see Lorenzo moving toward the floor. I did a double take. Then another. And another. Lorenzo was on one knee!?!!?!

In my drafted direction, I shared my number with the gate agent, so we were communicating to determine when she had the greenlight to call her up. She also asked if I wanted her to instruct Lisa to turn around at a certain point. I gave her the greenlight and advised that she'll turnaround when she hears the song. I wasn't wrong!! My fellow passenger was a perfect choice because they had an external speaker, so when the song – our song – played it sounded so loud and clear that it seemed like it was on the overhead speakers. With these knees, it took a minute, but I made it to one knee!

I had to blink and shake my head to make sense of it. Was this really happening? My brain couldn’t quite catch up to the scene unfolding in front of me. I realized people were watching and Lorenzo was there, waiting. I started to gather myself and walked over to him, my heart hammering in my chest. He looked over at the crowd and motioned for someone to stop the music. I glanced over, wondering who he could possibly be talking to. And then, in an instant, the music faded. It was just the two of us, standing in the middle of the bustling airport terminal. Lorenzo began to propose. My heart raced, and before he could even get the words out, I was already shaking my head, my mouth forming the word "Yes." As the reality of what had just happened began to settle in, it felt as though we were no longer in the middle of a crowded airport. The hustle and bustle of the terminal, the travelers, the noise—all of it seemed to fade away. It was just Lorenzo and me, standing there in our own little world, taking in the beautiful, life-changing moment. We were starting a new chapter, and I couldn’t wait to see where it would take us.

It was time! My helpers were great and willing, which made it all come together perfectly. I could tell they had spread the word to some of their co-workers, because I noticed a few cellphones up and recording early. But outside of that all I heard was “white noise"; reminded me of my football playing days. It was game time. ;) I wasn’t nervous because I knew this was meant to be. My voice may have been a little shaky, which happens when I have to speak with all eye-balls on me. Seeing Lisa eyes on me and her face brought comfort to the moment. My first words after the music stopped was “Hello Love", and then I referenced swiping right (see below), and that I would swipe right every day from now forward. She said yes!! And we now start the journey to the rest of our lives as husband and wife!!

We met online during the COVID pandemic in July 2020. We both subscribed to Match.com (an online dating app) as a way to meet others during the shutdown. Lisa: I was growing weary of sifting through endless profiles and was almost ready to give up on the whole thing. That’s when I noticed that Lorenzo liked my photo, but he hadn’t messaged me. At first, I figured he wasn’t really all that interested. But after looking through his profile, I was impressed by what I read. I wanted to know more about this six-foot-tall, book-reading, golf-playing, college-educated, master’s-degreed man with a good job. (LOL, just kidding—well, not really. :) Lorenzo: Lisa's profile caught my attention from the start, but I had learned that everyone had different approaches with online dating, so I started with a "like" to see if it was reciprocated. It was easy to be drawn to her profile because she was beautiful, active, athletic (triathlete), articulate and thoughtful. Our first two dates, on consecutive days, lasted four hours each. We continued to talk almost every day for over a month. Lisa: Lorenzo checked every box for me. He was (and still is) thoughtful, considerate, and a great communicator. I enjoyed getting to know him and talking about anything and everything. What I loved most was how observant he was and how he truly saw me for who I was. I could be myself with Lorenzo. He was always really listening and hearing what I had to say. His compassion for me and for others was so refreshing. Lorenzo: Lisa was funny, laughed at my corny jokes, was caring, nurturing, spiritual, and accepted me with my flaws, which we discussed in the many conversations we had. She helped me feel confident in many ways. Lisa: Lorenzo made me feel like he had space in his life and heart for me. I felt at home in his world and perfectly at ease in his arms. For so long, I wondered why I had spent so much of my youth single, why I had so much love in my heart but no companion to share it with. But now, I know those years were not wasted. I am a firm believer in the promises of God, and this relationship is a reminder to me that the fulfillment of HIS word comes in HIS timing. I am beyond grateful that my time of singleness has been redeemed, and I get to spend the rest of my life with someone so loving, kind, and full of joy. "Your latter days will be greater than your former." – Haggai 2:9 I am truly blessed to be in this season of my life with you, Lorenzo. Saying “I do” to you was the easiest decision I ever make. I do, and I always will. I can’t wait to be your wife. XoXo Lorenzo: We are always growing and continuously becoming a better version of ourselves. As they say, we are not “fully baked” yet. I met Lisa understanding that I had some more “cooking” to do, but with her, I felt that I could do that in a safe and nurturing relationship, with someone who was patient and understanding. I too, am blessed to have met you, Lisa, and for you giving me the honor of representing you in this world as your husband! XOXO

Dating During Covid – How Our Journey Started Dating during Covid was definitely a new experience, but it turned out to be the beginning of something beautiful. We spent the first few days communicating online, and eventually, we shared a few personal text messages that led to our initial phone conversation. From there, we made arrangements to meet for dinner, which quickly led to many more in-person meetings. July 14th – I liked Lisa's Match.com profile. July 20th – Lisa finally liked me back and sent a note on one of my golf pictures. July 20th – Exchanged messages via the Match.com app for the next 3 days. July 23rd – Decided to have an actual telephone conversation. July 24th – Met in person for a patio dinner at The Common Table; talked easily for hours. July 25th – Met at Top Golf talked for hours waiting to get a bay. (another outdoor event) July 26th – Only spoke on the phone as Lisa worked a part-time job on Sunday afternoons. July 27th – Met again for dinner at Gloria’s (decided to see each other exclusively). There are a few more moments that stood out over the next few weeks: Lazy Dog – A relaxed dinner again out on the outdoor patio. Driving Range – More time spent time outdoors enjoying each other’s company Dave & Busters – One of us was shooting lights out! ;) Rode through a Retirement parade together (Covid parties took on a new face). Played a round of basketball together at a City Park (now that was hilarious, and our knees hurt so bad the next day) ;) We easily spent almost every evening together for the 1st couple of months. It was fun getting to know one another; asking each other questions, learning more about one another, and finding covid friendly activities to do.

One of the questions we asked ourselves was, "What does bringing our lives together look like at this age?" It certainly doesn’t mean bringing more children into the world or pooling our finances to buy our first home—those are the things we saw many of our friends do as young brides and grooms. We concluded that for us, it means combining our lives in partnership—one rooted in love, care, adventure, and companionship. We now have the opportunity to embrace the things we once put on the shelf, the things that fit into the “Two are better than one” category. Together, we can explore what this world has to offer—travel, broaden our horizons, and experience the wonders of life. We can also spend time with the locals, fostering deep familial and friendly relationships that bring warmth to our journey. As we grow older, and we gain the ownership of our own time we would like to engage in volunteerism and provide service to our community in some way. Now that God has brought us together, we are open to the direction he may lead us in. The page is blank, and it’s ready to be filled with all the things we’ve imagined doing with that special person by our side. And that story begins with our wedding. We are so happy to start this journey with each of you in attendance. Thank you for being a part of our story. "For I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you, plans to give you a hope and a future" Jeremiah 29:11