I’m not one to believe in fate or destiny. Or one to believe things happen for a reason, or in horoscopes, pre-destiny, and good luck charms. But when your future wife is in your classes for 2 years straight, in the same major as you, and works out at the same time, it was impossible to ignore what God was doing. Mariah and I first met in Stats class my sophomore year but had limited interaction. It wasn’t until our 4 hour Research Design night class when we both started noticing each other and feelings sparked. From the very beginning, Mariah was different in the most beautiful way. I knew right away God took his time on creating her because of the way she carried herself. She was confident and poised, but goofy and carefree at the same time. She stole my attention and held it captive every time I saw her. Once we started “talking”, nothing else mattered. We constantly spent time together, craving each other’s company, talking into the dead hours of the night. But she provided me life, and joy in a way I have never experienced. Life was happening and we knew immediately that we wanted to experience it together. Love is not just a word, or a feeling. It is also an action. It requires that someone makes a deliberate choice to express the most intimate emotion in acts of service, or expression, time, prayer, sacrifice, and overall enjoyment of one another and wanting the absolute best for them. Mariah is the perfect example for that.Mariah is the greatest blessing in my life. She loves and serves endlessly always going out of her way to help those in need. Our next adventure is beginning. And if you are reading this, it is because we want you apart of our future. You have been a close friend, a loving family member, favorite professor, and loving individual. We ask that you do your best to keep in touch with us over the years, as we will do ours to keep in touch with you.