Join the Celebration!

We take no credit of having searched for each other nor do we credit luck. We look back and can only declare, with great confidence, it is by the grace of God (and the help of a little angel named Isabel) that led us to each other and to meet at this time. Miguel works for Citi (the bank but not in a bank). On Tuesday, November 14, he attended a meeting where their mutual friend, Isabel Gomez who works for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce was also in attendance. Having met a few times in meetings such as these, Miguel shared where he was in life, his current involvement in church and somewhere along the way...Isabel thought of her best friend, who also happened to be single. Isabel offered a best friend - Miguel offered a prayer and said he’d let her know; they exchanged emails and off they went. Late that evening, Miguel emailed Isabel and said, “Yes!” Immediately, Isabel sent word to Artemia, who also gave a “Yes!” Miguel and Artemia met on Wednesday, November 15, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. The plan, meet at Lori’s Table in Old Town Alexandria. Except, that evening they closed early, 7:00 p.m.! Artemia rushed to make a Plan B as she waited for Miguel. With a desire not to hear his voice before meeting in person, she texted and gave him Plan B: Killer E.S.P. on King Street. Artemia walked in and Miguel a few seconds later… a “hello,” a hug and an awkward smile…let’s get some coffee. They sat and talked for two-hours until the coffee shop closed at 9. They moved to “The Pita House” a few blocks down and talked another hour-and-a-half, 10:30 p.m. At the end of the night, Miguel walked her to her car and asked if he could call her the next day. Artemia said, “Yes.” Thursday, a couple of texts and another coffee date. Friday, a couple of texts and a burger date. Saturday, a couple of texts and a plan for Sunday. By December 15, a month after having met, Miguel and Artemia had been on 26 dates. I guess you could say things were going really well.

On their fifth month anniversary Miguel decided to surprise Artemia by proposing at the same spot they had met on their first date. After church, Miguel told Artemia that he wanted to get some “coffee”. Little did Artemia know that Miguel had prearranged for the same couch and small table to be made available at the place where it all began, Killer E.S.P. in Old Town Alexandria. After ordering the same drinks as on the first date, a Killer Mocha for Miguel and Dirty Chai for Artemia. She (unsuspectingly) and Miguel (casually) sat on the same couch as they had done on their first date. On the table were white hydrangeas, Artemia’s favorite flower. Miguel tried to remain as cool and calm as possible to prevent detection of his true intentions. The server arrived with their drinks, each with a heart shaped foam center in both cups. Miguel continued to act as normal as possible. After the server walked away in a matter of a few seconds (Miguel would say an eternity) their favorite song, Perfect by Ed Sheeran, featuring Beyonce, began playing throughout the coffee shop’s sound system. At which point, Artemia realized what was about to happen and she burst into tears. After Miguel spoke some words on the couch, he walked around the small table and got down on one knee, pulled out the ring from his pocket, and proceeded to propose to Artemia. She, of course, said “Yes”, and the shop servers erupted in applause. As nervous as Miguel was to ensure that his future bride was surprised throughout the proposal process, neither one could have imagined a more perfect setting for the proposal to take place. Indeed it was "Perfect." We excitedly look forward to celebrating our nuptials with all of our friends and family and before the God who orchestrated the whole thing.

It didn’t take very long to figure out we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together.... Coming from immigrant backgrounds -- Miguel having been adopted from the Philippines and Artemia with parents who are both refugees from Cuba and Nicaragua -- there are no centuries-long family heirlooms. Shortly after Miguel and Artemia decided, “OK, this is serious,” they discussed rings. Artemia years before had set her heart on using the ring her mom had gifted her as the ring she’d wear all her life, hoping she could also use it as her engagement ring. After discussing it with Miguel, they both agreed they wanted to have something from both sides of the family to pass on to the next generation. Miguel’s adoptive parents had already given him a family heirloom. The ring was fitted from the right hand to the left and kept with Miguel until the appointed time, April 15, 2018, when they got engaged.

On our wedding day, our greatest desire is to celebrate! As we looked back and shared each other's stories we knew that this was all in God’s timing and in God’s merciful grace that He would lead us to each other (via Isabel Gomez, of course!). After many years of waiting patiently upon the Lord what better way than to share it with all of our many friends and family while declaring God’s goodness. We want to worship God with our testimony, our ministries and in our marriage. Knowing that our lives are not compartmentalized but in everything we are to worship God. We hope that in our celebration you might be inspired to also wait faithfully in the Lord for whatever lies at the center of your wanting… we give witness that He is indeed Elohim, “the God that sees” (Genesis 13:5).