We're getting married!

James' Side: I was introduced to Mariela through a mutual friend from church. The initial introduction was equally an interruption, but interruptions sometimes are God's re-direction. After a brief conversation, we would go separate ways, not knowing that half an hour later, we would be sitting at the same stoplight by what appeared to be a meet-cute coincidence. Quickly rolling down my window, I asked Mariela to remind me of her name, making sure I wrote it down. Two weeks would go by before seeing her again, but this time humorously, we were both attending church alongside previous partners from past relationships. In an attempt to display her interest, despite her company, Mariela sealed my interest with a not-so-subtle goodbye-kiss on the cheek. Thoroughly being captivated by this mystery Jesus girl, I asked her out after church the following week, determined to get to know her more. What should have been a quick taco date alongside the beach turned into a 3 AM night, filled with laughs and vulnerability. Mixing our mutual love for Jesus, plus the desire to have a godly marriage, then ignited by the spark of our personalities... It didn't take long for me to fall for her. By week three I decided that I wanted to marry her, and it only took another three weeks for me to buy the ring. Mariela's Side: Sometime last Spring, I read the saddest statistic sharing where/how married couples met their spouses. To my utter surprise, "church" was number nine on the list out of ten. Taking a deep breath, I made my way to the top and read that "FRIENDS introducing them" was the number one way to meet your future spouse. Feeling hopeful and demanding, I wasted no time to "jokingly" assign my closest friends with finding me my Godly husband. After months of check-in questions like, "How do you feel about guys that ____?" or "Would you ever consider a guy who has ____?" it was clear to me that my assignment had us all under too much pressure. It was time to surrender. No, not out of defeat or hopelessness, but out of trust in God. It was a messy and emotional process but with a lot of prayer, fasting and pursuing intentional fellowship, I started to understand what God's plan was. He was preparing me for my biggest desire, to be a godly wife. It was during our church's 21 days of prayer and fasting last August that my most charismatic and excitable friend, Mafe, demanded that I return to the 6pm service one Sunday. "Mari, you have to come meet this guy, James!" "I'm telling you Mari, you're going to love the way he talks about Jesus." "AND..... he's also a Veteran!" (not a selling point for me). Buuuuuuuut, I made a deal with God that I wouldn't pass up the opportunity if he laid in front of me. This to include Mafe pestering me out of my delicious, post-church nap. I complied and proceeded to have the most awkward and intrusive, sort-of introduction any woman in her mid-thirties dreads of. He was not at all expecting me and proceeded to pull out Army small talk in an attempt to converse. I was not impressed and I was even more insecure of how desperate I may have looked. So, I scurried away after that painful conversation ended, scolding Mafe all the way to her car so she could take me home. Just as I wrapped up my YOU-HAD-ONE-JOB speech in the car, we stopped at a red light. Completely ignoring my lecture, and with a stunned smile, she points out of the passenger side behind me, and there he was, leaning out of his window, sun-kissed curls and shiny smile. Of course, Mafe rolls down my window for another round of forced interaction with the pretty boy from church. "Hey... what was your name again?" And with that insignificant question, to most, it was the starting point of a very zealous and intentional pursuit for a godly marriage. Thanks, Mafe.