On a sunny weekend in August 2023, neither Nathaniel nor Grace could have predicted how their lives were about to change. Grace, who was living in Santa Barbara while finishing grad school, decided to visit her close friend Alyssa in Orange County for the weekend. Alyssa suggested they attend a Catholic Young Adult Beach Olympics at Huntington Beach, a casual gathering filled with bonfires, beach games, and new faces. What none of them knew was that God had something much bigger in store that day. Nathaniel and Grace met at the event and quickly struck up a conversation. Nathaniel even made sure to ask his friend to pick Grace for their team when it came time for the beach volleyball tournament. After hours of laughing, chatting, and competing in silly games, Nathaniel asked Grace for her number and asked her out on a date. As the evening unfolded, they discovered that they had both recently completed the 33-Day St. Joseph Consecration and, incredibly, had finished on the exact same day. It felt like a beautiful sign that God’s hand was already at work in their story. A week later, Nathaniel made the three-hour drive to Santa Barbara for their first official date. He arrived with a bouquet of flowers and a carefully packed charcuterie picnic, taking Grace to the Douglas Family Preserve, a stunning cliffside park overlooking the ocean at sunset. Nathaniel, the genius he is, didn't know the park was also an off-leash dog walking trail, and in between heartfelt conversations, a parade of dogs stopped by to snack on the charcuterie spread. (Thanks for the rec Alyssa, LOL). It was a hilarious and unforgettable evening that marked the beginning of something neither of them expected but both deeply hoped for. The following weekend, Grace drove to Los Angeles, where they spent an entire day wandering the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens, talking about everything and anything. It was on that day Nathaniel knew he had fallen in love with Grace. A few months later, on December 3, 2023, they told each other that they loved each other for the first time. Over the next year and a half, their relationship was filled with countless FaceTime calls, thousands of miles driven to see each other, miles of hiking trails, games, spontaneous adventures, and daily prayers together and for one another. Despite the distance, they built their relationship with intention, faith, and a whole lot of joy. On December 14, 2024, Nathaniel brought Grace back to that same cliffside spot where it all began. He got down on one knee and asked Grace to spend forever with him. Without hesitation, she said, “Yes!” Now, they are so excited to begin the next chapter of their story together where they will be married on April 25, 2026, at the San Luis Obispo Mission, surrounded by the people they love most. It is with hearts full of gratitude that they look forward to a lifetime of faith, adventure, and love, knowing that God’s hand has been guiding their journey every step of the way.