We're getting married

David and Grace had their first conversation on January 3, 2023. David asked Grace a lot of questions about Christianity and Covid craziness, David was impressed how Grace answered it. Since then, they began talking occasionally in WeChat, discussing topics ranging from the Bible to David’s passion for improving education, helping young people develop critical thinking skills, and sharing stories about American and Chinese cultures. David likes the Chinese story “The old man lost his horse”. They met in person for the first time on March 31 in Hong Kong. Spent half day together, exploring the city and talking happily before Grace returned to China. The next day, David traveled to Macau to meet Grace again. Sitting on a bench under a big tree, Grace learned more about David’s background, his experiences in China, his family, and his faith (while waiting for Grace to recover from a food coma). At the end of April, Grace decided to apply for an F-1 visa, unaware that David lived near the area she used to apply to, as his profile had said he was in LA. Everything went smoothly, and by the end of May, Grace got her visa. When Grace first saw David in the US, he was wearing a red T-shirt, holding Chinese baozi and peaches, standing at the door, greeting her with a big smile and said “This is Chinese way to visit friend with fruit!” David visited Grace every weekend, showing her around San Francisco, including the homeless street, Japan Town, China Town, Muir Woods, and Apple Hill. They went to church together on Sundays. During this time, they were still just friends, getting to know each other. On October 28, while driving back from Sacramento, Grace saw a road sign to Yosemite, pronouncing it "Yose'mite." David gently corrected her, holding her hand for the first time. Grace was so surprised and happy that she cried. David was concerned and ask “Why do you cry?” Grace said “Why do you hold my hands?” David was quiet. David invited Grace to his sister Sharon’s home in San Rafael for Thanksgiving Day. Later, they went to his brother's home in North Carolina for Christmas, where they celebrated with his other sister Sheryl's family from Texas. They had a wonderful holiday! One of Grace’s favorite memories was New Year's in Sacramento, where she and David rode a tandem bike to the railroad museum, a place she had visited alone four years earlier. She marveled at how God had brought them together. David and Grace began biblical premarital counseling at the end of December, discussing numerous questions and reading a book together. After four months, at the beginning of April, David decided to fly to China to meet Grace’s family, he was warmly welcomed, and the five-day trip felt like a dream to Grace. Upon returning from China, David took Grace to a fancy restaurant and ordered an alcoholic drink for the first time. They discussed their trip, and David said to Grace "Your brother said he is okay if you marry me. If your family doesn’t disagree, I think we should move forward." Grace cried, thinking it might be a proposal, but there was no ring. She found herself in a difficult period, wondering if she should accept his proposal without a ring… On May 20, 2024, during the badminton class, Grace told David it was an important day for her. She had become a Christian on May 20, 2012, and it was also "I Love You" day in China. After class, they went to Costco for groceries and then read the Bible in the car, as was their usual Monday routine. Afterward, David pulled out a big white box and said, "I have a gift for you." Seeing the large box, Grace thought it couldn't be a ring. David opened the box "I ordered this three weeks ago and was not sure when to give it to you. Then God told me to put the ring in my trunk this morning. Once you told me that it is 'I Love You Day’ I knew it was God telling me to give you this ring. Will you marry me?" He got down on one knee in Grace’s car (looking funny). Grace laughed and said, "I will."