Our story began like many modern love stories do, on a dating app. It was one of those moments where I wasn’t expecting much, just casually browsing, but then... something about his profile caught my eye. He wasn’t just another face on the screen; his smile was kind, his words thoughtful, and his energy radiated even through the phone. With a nervous excitement, I swiped right. To my surprise and delight, it was a match. Our first few messages were lighthearted, but as I headed to Las Vegas with Linda, Jen, Cat, and Ariel, I couldn’t help but keep texting him back quickly (while trying to play it cool 😎). Then came the dreaded question: "Why are you going to Las Vegas?" I knew this could be a dealbreaker. Nervously, I typed, "I’m here for a BTS concert 😅." To my relief, he wasn’t scared off. Our conversations only grew from there, blossoming into hours of chatting, laughing, and sharing our lives. It felt like we’d known each other forever, even though we hadn’t met in person yet. A few weeks later, we decided it was time for the big moment, our first date. Nervous but excited, we met at Mintea while I was working. The moment we saw each other, there was an undeniable connection. I felt the butterflies starting to form. But as we began talking, the nerves quickly faded, replaced by the ease and comfort of being with someone who just felt right. We talked for hours and ended up going for dinner and a movie; it was perfect. At the time, we were long-distance, with me living in Fresno and him in Oxnard. Our “dates” consisted of Facetiming all night, even falling asleep on the phone together. Since we first met in Fresno, it was time for me to visit him. (Sorry, Grandma, I lied 💜 Love you.) I made the drive to Oxnard. He had a class that day, so we drove to Northridge together and spent the whole day there. It was the first time I didn’t want to leave someone. (I lied again, sorry Grandma.) I decided to get a hotel and stay, and we talked all night long. (Nothing happened, shame on you 😜.) It felt so natural, so right. From that moment, I knew I was in love. We had a vacation planned in LA not long after, and I was nervous driving there. I already knew I loved him, but I had no idea if he felt the same. As the days in LA went by, I kept waiting for him to ask me to be his girlfriend. On the last day, he still hadn’t asked, and I braced myself for the worst, thinking maybe he wasn’t as serious as I was. But, of course, that didn’t happen. Even back in Oxnard, we didn’t want to part. After talking for hours, he finally asked me to be his girlfriend, and I was the happiest girl in the world. Who knew In-N-Out was the real "Happiest Place on Earth"? Now, here we are, engaged and planning our future together. It’s amazing to think that a simple decision to sign up for a dating app led me to the love of my life. Our journey has been a beautiful blend of digital beginnings and real-life magic, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

It feels like just yesterday that we first matched on Hinge, on April 6, 2022. Like any dating app, the pictures were only a first impression. As we began talking constantly, I was initially attracted to her looks, but soon I found myself drawn even more to her personality, beliefs, and morals. There’s a saying: “There’s always an easy way out.” But I’ve always felt that you don’t learn or grow by taking the easy route. There’s no reward without risk, and “fortune favors the bold.” So on April 27, 2022, I decided to take a chance. I drove 182 miles to a small Boba shop in a city I had never been to before—Fresno—to meet the woman who would become the love of my life, Courtney Renee Scheidt. The night before, we agreed on a place and time. But the day of, I chose not to text her at all, planning to surprise her when she least expected it. Ironically, we ended up going to the restaurant where I worked at the time—Applebee’s—so I could use my employee discount lol, and then watched Morbius at the theater. We spent the entire day together, and I didn’t want it to end. Before I knew it, it was 2:02 a.m. and my ETA back home was 5:37 a.m. Reluctantly, I left, and she stayed on the phone with me the whole drive to make sure I didn’t fall asleep. When I finally got home, my mom asked why I was so late. I quickly came up with an alibi—that I had been working on a group project since finals were just around the corner. In the months that followed, I began to see her true colors and her deep passion for me. She came down to see me whenever she could, just to spend more time together. She even took her own risk, leaving her family and friends in Fresno to live with her God Mom and take a job in L.A.—all so she could be closer to me. I had never met someone who wore their heart on their sleeve so openly for me. Her commitment and sacrifices made me realize that I never wanted to lose someone as special as her. The real test was introducing her to my mom. For context, I wouldn’t be where I am today without my mom’s love and support. And in many ways, Courtney reminded me of her—caring, selfless, polite, and always there when it mattered most. On June 7, 2022, I asked my mom, “So what are you hoping for, Mom?” She replied, “I’m hoping for her to be with you forever and love you forever. Me, when I love someone, it’s only one—only your dad.” Her approval and intuition about Courtney spoke volumes. As time passed, we faced struggles and challenges that tested us: quarantining together through COVID, me pushing through the pressure of finishing my last year of college while working two jobs, her feeling homesick and stuck in jobs where she wasn’t appreciated, and even me getting laid off twice in two months this year—wondering if this wedding would ever happen. But through all the adversity, we persevered. And achieving what we have now has made it crystal clear to me that she is the one I want to spend the rest of my life with. Now, as we prepare for the next chapter of our lives—with our little family, Willow and Namine—I feel blessed to call her my soon-to-be wife. Looking back at the chance I took more than three years ago, I don’t regret it for a second. I know it was a decision guided by the Lord. “Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” — 1 Corinthians 13:6–7