You could say our story started in third grade—Yohana would argue second. Either way, fate didn’t waste time. If you'd told my third-grade self I’d one day marry the quiet girl who beat me for class president, I wouldn’t have believed it. But looking back, that year was pure foreshadowing. That year, I ran for class president, and by my careful calculations, I thought I had it in the bag. But no—Yohana snagged the president title, and I ended up with the vice president title. I was left doing all the class president duties anyway because her bus pulled in after mine so I had to pass out every one’s papers in the morning. She got the title, I got the workload. We still joke about it now. I never thought about it as teamwork because it was a more competitive thing back then, you know? Who knew third grade politics could predict a lifetime of teamwork... and even love.

 

By fifth grade, we were “together”—you know, the kind of relationship where you talk on the phone but can’t make eye contact in person. But then there was that fifth-grade Mardi Gras party. Two plastic babies hidden in a cake that symbolized good luck for the ones who received a slice with one in it—two classrooms were in attendance, one baby found in her slice, one baby found in mine. Call it luck, call it fate… even then, it felt like something bigger was at play. I think our classmates were even surprised because it did seem unlikely that the two playing puppy love at the time would get the only 2 babies in the cake. Even though a future together seemed so far for a pair of fifth graders, this was another example of foreshadowing.

 

Over the years, our bond grew naturally. In middle school, we stayed connected. By high school, we were inseparable, calling each other “brother and sister” and sharing just about everything with each other. Around this time there were still a decent amount of our friends from elementary school in high school with us, but when it came to Yohana and me, it was a different type of friendship. We are so grateful that we were real friends before we ever got serious. Glory to God.

 

By senior year, we’d drifted apart—no shared classes, no easy excuses to talk. Yet, from a distance, I couldn’t help but notice the incredible woman Yohana was becoming. Then, at her best friend’s birthday party, she looked at me in a way that I didn’t expect but I didn’t put too much thought into it. At that time Yohana made it seem like she didn’t want anything to do with me, but when her best friend told me otherwise—I  saw my opportunity to finally pursue Yohana and so I took it.

 

We started dating after graduation. We were young, still figuring out how to love well and how to put God first. I gave my life to Christ during that season. It changed me so much, but the changes were beginning changes. So many more needed to be made. We still had plenty of room to grow. And we continued growing—in different directions, at times.

 

In 2015, life took us in different directions. I joined the Navy, and we went our separate ways—but we never truly let go. Our bond remained, even through distance and time. We stayed in touch, supporting each other through every season. I always told myself that I would do anything for her even if we were just friends because of all we’d been through together and the love that we shared.

 

Long-distance became our normal, and yet—even across miles and years—my heart always saw her as my future. In every version of my life that I imagined, she was always my wife.

 

By 2020, after much time apart, prayer, and growth, we gave it another shot. This time, it was different. This time, God was at the center. We’ve been tested. We’ve stumbled. But we’ve grown stronger—with Him and with each other. And as we both began to pursue God more intentionally, our relationship changed. Everything shifted. Our love grew deeper, fuller, and more centered on what really mattered. Without a doubt, we would not be here today if it weren’t for our Father in Heaven. Thank you, Jesus!

 

It hasn’t been easy, but it’s been real. And every step of the way, God has been faithful. When we put Him first, everything else found its place.

 

Today, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude to be standing beside someone I can love freely, fully, and forever. Loving Yohana is a blessing I don’t take lightly. She is God’s gift to me—and being able to pour my heart into her every day is more than I ever prayed for. It is truly a blessing to be able to love someone without holding back. Today, I look at her and I see my answered prayer. My partner. She’s everything I didn’t know how to pray for when I was a kid. And everything I thank God for now.

 

And here we are, starting a new chapter to our story.