Get ready to party!!

Rose: It all started at a Christian Surfers Christmas party when I showed up late, grabbed my plate of food, and sat down in the first empty chair I saw. This happened to be directly across from Marco! I remember feeling stressed from being late and coming from a long day of work as well as overwhelmed by all the new people (Carlsbad, Oceanside, Point Loma, and Hunington Beach chapters are all invited). I truly almost didn't come due to feeling like I was too tired. I chose to be friendly and conversational and we ended up lightly sparking. I remember being intrigued by all his travels and having fun connecting on the places we have both been to, as well as interested and connected in hearing about his recent adventures to other places I had never been to! Our conversation was hijacked by the party's next activity (famous sock exchange) and I remember I could tell his disappointment and desire to keep talking. I avoided him the rest of the night cause I didn't want all my friends teasing me for talking to this "new guy..." Later on, I mentioned to my friend Emily who is more involved with CS, "Hey do you know anything about that guy Marco from Oceanside?" She said no so I left it at that and moved on. Fast-forward five months later and my friend Emily has just returned from a trip with CS to El Salvador. She shared with me that she met this cute single guy on the trip that she thought might be a nice match for me and she gave him my number to set us up. I inquired more.... she explained, "He's cute, adventurous, loves to surf, lives in Oceanside, his name is Marco..." I remembered him right away and responded with "Emily that's the guy from the Christmas party!" A lightbulb recollection of excitement "OH My gosh you're right!" Excited and with anticipation he texts me a few days later. We went on our first date to Sano and surfed/talked for hours late into the night. Best first date of my life and the rest is history~! Marco: Rose is immeasurably more than I could ever ask for, think of, or imagine. I first met Rose at a Christian Surfers sock party. I was eating and she sat across from me and I totally put the moves on her. But then she snuck away during the games, no digits... Then I went on an adventure with CS to Peru and El Salvador for 6 weeks. During this trip my dear friends and mentors David and Amy were running around trying to set me up with someone - knowing I was a loose cannon that needed a good woman to settle down with. Then my friend Emily said "What's the deal? You wanna get married?" and I said "I don't know how financially ready (broke and ready for love) I am yet but I want to move towards that." That was good enough for her and she gave me a lovely mystery number of a girl named Rose. The day I remet Rose I was blown away. We surfed San O together, for once I wasn't paddling for every wave - I was actually letting waves go by so I can talk to her. We talked the whole surf about life, the Lord, surfing, traveling, miracles, dreams of living abroad, on and on. We ate tacos and talked into the late night. I was smitten! I knew immediately that I wanted to be with Rose and not in some casual way and I was definitely not casual about it. I told her early on how strongly I felt about her and thankfully she didn't run away; she just banned me from saying "marriage" for a while. But hey look at us now, we get to talk about it everyday. Rose and I have had many adventures together. Every day is so fun and full, the amount that I am praising God has gone way up since I met her. She's mostly always down to surf with me - even if it's way overhead (sometimes I don't tell her the forecast). I am so blessed, we have been through a lot and grown so much together. She continues to blow me away and make me know that she is immeasurably more than I can ever ask for, think of, or imagine - such a gift from God. She puts up with my crazy antics, eats scraps with me, pursues Jesus with me, and charges. We are blessed