Both of us attended the same church in Dallas for some time and had a handful of mutual friends. Dean served on the same team with Marisa’s best friend and former roommate, Julie, at our church’s young adult ministry. And Marisa — little to Dean’s knowledge — had a crush on him from afar. But it wasn’t until one of Marisa’s other roommates, Stephanie, held a Barbie-themed birthday party in April 2021 that sparks began to fly. Dean, punctual as he always is, was one of the first guests to arrive that night. Not long after others started to show up and everyone settled in, the two of us struck a conversation in the hallway. Quickly we realized we had many small-world things in common — both of us even had family in our respective hometowns in California and Texas — and little did we know where things would be headed. Near the end of the night, Dean’s good friend and current roommate, Marc, passed along a cue from Julie that Marisa was interested. Dean admittedly may have been a bit flustered in that exact moment, but in due time mustered up the courage to ask Marisa on a date when he and his roommates invited Marisa and her roommates to a backyard bbq several weeks later. The first date was an adventure — Dean caught food poisoning the next day from the brisket tacos he ordered and some friends may have even been spying on us from down the road — but it ultimately kickstarted the best adventure of our lives. Through countless dinner dates at trendy spots in Dallas, attending TCU and Baylor football games — we’ve reconciled that rivalry — and traveling to places such as California and Cabo with each other’s families, it became abundantly clear we wanted to spend our lives chasing Jesus with each other! After doing a pre-marital class at our church over the first several months of 2022, the big day finally rolled around on April 24. While neither of us are big on surprises, Dean — with the help of Marisa’s friends and family — planned the ultimate surprise! Marisa thought she was going to a birthday celebration for her friend Regan, but that day ended with Dean proposing to Marisa at a picturesque Highland Park gazebo on a picture-perfect spring day. Both of our immediate families then emerged from the bushes to celebrate the special moment before we gathered with more close friends and a nearby venue. This past year and counting is one we’ve cherished beyond words as our community has fervently supported us in our relationship. God’s love and kindness has been abundant, and we ultimately both want nothing more than to make the Lord’s name known as we enter into this incredible season of marriage. We can’t wait to celebrate with each and every one of y’all come Jan. 28 in the Lone Star State! – The Future Strakas