I remember my friend told me the girl I’d noticed in her Instagram story would be at Friendsgiving Dinner. I thought, Oh…cool! I hadn’t heard anything about the girl in months since I’d seen that photo of her on the church steps and asked, “Who is that?” She was beautiful and flashed the most incredible smile. But that was it. She’d totally disappeared and my friend hadn’t told me where to (Brazil for two months).   Priscila was friendly, yet reserved. Inquisitive, yet dignified. And when she reached for my chocolate pastry, I was flattered. Seriously. She didn’t know me from Adam, and felt comfortable and safe enough with me to grab a chocolate pastry out of my hands. Hahaha. I still smile thinking about my enthusiasm over my next bite, then seeing it go to her, and how gratified I felt over that sweet defeat.   And how Priscila talked to the group about her faith in the Lord. She’s grounded. Settled. Decided. I knew she was a serious and godly woman, and I loved hearing it.   I walked Priscila to the train station that night. We talked. She told me she’d been in the States for Law School and had passed the bar. I told her I was a writer and had recently published. I put her on the express train moments later and thought, I’ll reach out again tomorrow.   I’ve heard the cool thing is to wait a couple of days. Or maybe a week. Then it’s cool and safe and socially acceptable. I find it difficult to be all those things when my heart wrestles with me the way it did the following day. I reached out and she agreed to meet with me that Friday, the day after Thanksgiving.   It wasn’t the most inspiring first date. Cultural differences. She was stressed about finding an apartment. I may have also talked too long about the tequila-making process. We like to call it Black Friday.   I don’t like to lose. I also know treasure when I see it. There aren’t many diamonds walking these streets, and I knew I’d spent time with one. The following morning, I reached out to Priscila and reiterated my desire to get to know her. She said she liked the idea and we gave it another chance. In so doing, we set in motion the standard that would mark our relationship together, that of making room for each other to learn and grow alongside each other. I’ve known what it is to walk with someone special—to do life with that one person. There’s been an inexplicably powerful conviction driving our love—a kind of knowing I can only attribute to God—and I aim to keep and cherish it all for the rest of my life.   And here we are. Priscila and I are excited to raise a glass with you. We wouldn’t be the people we are without your presence in our lives. And we’re excited to honor our Heavenly Father—we wouldn’t be approaching that day together without His love in our lives.