the future santibañez!

Belen and Miguel met at the BSM at TJC. They were in the same Family Group and it was not love at first sight. Both Belen and Miguel had recently felt a peace regarding singleness and were solely pursuing Him. Friends and family kept telling them that they should date but the thought hadn't even crossed their minds. After diligent prayer and consulting of friends and mentors, Miguel created a plan (if you know him it's what he does) to ask Belen out on a date following their return to Tyler from their Spring Break Mission Trip in 2020. Then, friends, COVID hit. Belen was sent home indefinitely and Miguel was left with only the intention. However, it was during quarantine that Miguel and Belen fell more and more in love with each other. They face-timed each other as the day began and would not put down the phone until it was time to go to sleep. Belen returned to Tyler for a day to pack the rest of her things and go back home. Miguel wanted to seize this opportunity so he bought Chick Fil A and took Belen to Pine Cove Shores to ask her out. Due to reasons we will not disclose, Belen began to cry while the picnic was going on. Though Miguel was not the reason for her crying he felt it was not the right time to ask her out. They continued to be separated for 2 more months. Belen was moving back to Tyler to work at the same summer camp as Miguel. However, Miguel knew that Belen was a big rule follower and new relationships were not allowed during camp. Because of this, Miguel asked Belen to stop at a gas station before she arrived at her apartment, brought flowers from Fresh, and asked Belen to be his girlfriend in the rain at a gas station 2 minutes from Belen's apartment. Almost three years later, their love story made a return back to where it almost started, Pine Cove. Miguel planned a proposal in the same spot where he almost asked Belen to be his girlfriend during their annual Valentine's pictures. After her yes, they continued their pictures and rushed back to the Engagement Party to celebrate with friends and family.