We're getting Married! Finally...We're getting Married! Finally...

It all began in the heart of California’s Central Valley—at College of the Sequoias—in late 2011, early 2012. We were just two students trying to navigate our way through community college, brought together by a transfer scholarship program called Puente. I was a committee representative for the program, and Alex, well... he was new to the crew. He and his friends began hanging around our group. At first, he was just a friendly face joining our hangouts. But the more time we spent together, the more we connected. He told jokes. I laughed. He loved seeing me laugh, and I couldn’t help but notice how effortlessly he made me feel at ease. He tried getting closer during a camping trip with the program, but at the time, I didn’t quite pick up on the signals. Still, something was growing. Then came September 2012. Alex invited me to the Tulare Fair—a clear date in hindsight, but I didn't know that yet. I pulled up in my car, ready to drive us both, but he stopped me. "Just park," he said with a smile, and instead we walked there together. That small change of plan? It made me feel adventurous, spontaneous, and seen. That night we played arcade games, rode one (very nerve-wracking for him) ride, and laughed like we’d known each other for years. I think that’s the moment I knew something special was unfolding. From then on, we were inseparable. Things moved quickly—maybe too quickly at times. I moved in right away. We fought, made up, and fought again, but the love was always there, anchoring us through the highs and lows. In 2014, just two and a half years after we met, we found out we were expecting. Our son, Sebastian, came into the world and changed everything. He’s been our greatest adventure, our deepest bond, and the reason we never gave up on each other. Parenthood wasn’t easy at first. We stumbled, but we learned quickly that we shared the same core values and respect for one another. In the middle of all this, Alex left for Cal State Northridge to finish his degree in Marketing while I continued mine in Psychology at Fresno Pacific. Long distance tested us in ways we didn’t expect, but Alex never stopped trying. Whenever I needed him, he showed up. After graduation, Alex made the decision to come home to Tulare and follow in his father’s footsteps—his dream job—and he’s never been happier. I went on to earn my Master’s in School Psychology and have been working in the field for the past five years. Even though our careers are different, our support for each other has always been unwavering. We make each other laugh. We’re sarcastic, silly, and strong. And even through our hardest seasons, we’ve always found our way back to love. On Christmas Eve 2022—my favorite holiday—Alex proposed in the most meaningful place: my grandmother’s house. With all the warmth and love of our family around us, he asked me to be his forever. And here we are, three years later, finally planning the day where we get to celebrate our love with all the people who’ve watched our story unfold. The past few years haven’t been without struggle. We’ve faced challenges with pregnancy and life, but through it all, we've held onto each other. Now, we’re ready to celebrate the life we've built—the laughter, the tears, the victories, and the resilience—with the people who’ve meant the most to us. We can’t wait to share this day with you. Here’s to love, to family, and to a future full of hope and happiness. With all our hearts, Alejandro and Shayla