My story begins with a 17-year old high school senior trying to figure out life. If you knew me in high school, I’m sorry. Baseball was my life in high school, most of my friends were my teammates and I spent hours with them every day. During my senior year, I had decided to go to The University of Redlands with hopes to play baseball in college. Mimi and I’s story started with a random snapchat one night. She sent me a picture and I quite frankly had no idea who she was, it’s a miracle I responded at all. We began talking over snapchat and at some point got each other’s phone numbers and began texting a lot. She was the first girl I had ever communicated with this seriously, besides my mom or sister. We first hung out at the beach with some friends, including my friend James, who in hindsight may be the GWOAT (greatest wingman of all time). There was no senior prom due to COVID, so Mimi’s friends grandparents offered their house to host a “mom prom”. She asked me to go with her to this prom and I said yes. Afterward, she had been to some of my baseball games and we had been on a couple dates. I realized I really enjoyed spending time with Mimi and I loved who she was. I loved her character, personality, family, and natural beauty. A few days later on May 27th 2021, after awkward small talk and some embarrassing procrastination I officially asked her to be my girlfriend. This all happened the summer before we both would leave for different colleges, but through His grace we decided to continue our relationship. She would go to Grand Canyon University in Phoenix and I went to The University of Redlands. Our commitment to each other was clear and we wanted to make long distance work. A few months into our relationship I realized Mimi was different than a lot of other girls, she had character that was rooted in her faith. She didn’t do things that other girlfriends might have and that always sparked curiosity in me. She made her love for me clear and knew that I would be her husband one day (she’s got some serious intuition). We had a very rough stretch in our relationship around two years after dating during the summer of 2023. We were both home for summer and seeing each other every day, but we where disagreeing and emotionally hurting each other every day. So, we went on break while each of us where at school and that lasted about 2-3 months. In that time, I hit a rough point in my life and God began surrounding me with His followers through Young Life and that community. I began reading a Bible, Mimi had given me and learned about Jesus of Nazareth. I fell in love with Jesus and He fulfilled the deepest yearnings of my heart. I got baptized shortly after and I became a new creation in Him. God had stripped away what meant most to me in order for me to know Him and I’m eternally grateful for it. Mimi and I reconnected after I had found Jesus and began building a relationship centered around Him and His love. Now I’m able to love Mimi sacrificially and I understand what true love looks like because of Jesus. Mimi and I’s relationship has sanctified us individually and allowed us to grow in our faith. I proposed about two years after we reconnected at Torrey Pines beach on July 19th, 2025. We celebrated with friends and family afterward leaving our hearts so full and appreciative of the people God has surrounded us with.

My senior year of high school, 2021, I was working at North County Soccer Park. I was coaching both baseball and soccer there at the time. One of my coworkers asked if I was looking to talk to someone and at the time I wanted to say yes but knew it probably wasn’t smart with me leaving for college in 6 months. However, I agreed and let him give me a snap of one of his baseball teammates. I didn’t do much with it for a couple weeks until one night I decided to snap him a random picture of my face with no words. Silly I know. I was shocked when I received a snap back from this person and didn’t get left on open. This is where it all started. We snapped back and forth for a while before we decided we wanted to hangout. However, before we hung out I went to a few of his baseball games. We would see each other and know who we are but never talked at the games. Again, silly I know. I remember at these games his teammates would see me and shout, “Hey! It’s J’s girl!” He was not a fan of this and did not like being embarrassed by his teammates. We finally decided to hangout; it was very overdue. The first time we hung out he brought his best friend James and I brought my college roommate, who was in town visiting. We went to Del Mar and had a beach day. We talked a little bit but were very nervous and shy. Our friends carried the conversation. The second time we hung out we went to the beach again. I brought a friend and he came alone. Finally, the third time we hung out alone for the first time. We got chipotle and watched the sunset at Fletchers cove. At this point, I knew I really liked the guy but didn’t know how to go about things. Time went on and May 27th, 2021, he asked me to officially be his girlfriend after standing outside his car for an hour in the freezing cold. Lol! It was cute to see him nervous. That summer we hung out as much as possible with each other and each others families. The time came to leave for college and we decided we were happy being together and wanting to try long distance. Julian went to the University of Redlands and I went to Grand Canyon University in Arizona. The next couple years consisted of lots of facetime calls and flights, but it was 100% worth it, and I would do it again and again for him. We can say I was in love at this point. However, at 2 years in we hit a little bit of a rough point. I was diagnosed with some pretty heavy medical stuff that summer and it took me out for the whole summer. At the time Julian was also not a Christian, and it was very important for me to marry a Godly man and raise our kids in a Christian household. This also caused some tension. During this time we decided it was best to go on a break. Julian had a Bible I gave him and decided to start opening it and reading it while we were on a break. He also started to attend Young Life at this point; which planted a huge seed in his life and eventually led to him getting baptized. PRAISE JESUS!!! Shortly after his baptism, we decided to get back together and try again. However, during the break we did stay in contact but wanted to give each other space to figure out what we both wanted. Julian was given a new life with Christ and was a completely different person. He was on fire for the Lord!!! I had this peace of mind that this was the man God blessed me with and knew I was going to marry him. Time went on and on July 19th, 2025, he proposed to me at Torrey Pines State Beach. I will never forget him getting down on one knee and asking me to marry him. I said “YES!” We celebrated afterwards at my house, alongside family and friends. Our story is unlike others but we definitely saw the Lord’s hand in it all. I am so blessed to have Julian to do life with and so thankful for the Godly man he is, and the immense ways he loves me each and everyday. I love him beyond words can explain and I am excited to see what the Lord has in store for us as we enter into this next season of marriage.