George and I met while serving in the church. I found George extremely friendly, charismatic, and genuinely a joyful person. His natural talent and gift for communication made him a perfect fit for our welcome team. Everyone could see how George would effortlessly make others feel warm and loved. He was not only a great addition to the team but brought with him spunk and tenacity for leadership and development. At that time, I had no idea this man would someday become my husband. I’ll fast forward to a date many of you reading already know about; July 3rd, 2017. In one night, everything changed- first in our hearts and then in our lives. While taking a break from hosting during a game night, George offered to teach me how to play dominos. He was considerate, gracious, inviting, patient, reassuring, and encouraging. Whether we won or lost, George maintained a wicked smile and told me I was doing great. I guess you could say, in hindsight, that night he began to sweep me off my feet. We played on, drank Cuban coffee, and shared in a night of friends, laughter, and planting the seeds of what would grow into our relationship. We had our first date on August 10th, 2017. George asked me to be his girlfriend on August 25th, 2017. Then, on Wednesday, December 12th, 2018, in the company of our closest friends and family, he invited me to join him on the journey of a lifetime, as Mrs. Santana.

Significant to our relationship has been the sheer love and invaluable support of our closest friends and family. Every major milestone and accomplishment has been celebrated with a hoard of unbelievable individuals. There are those who have been in-step with us the whole way through. There are others who have come along afterward, cheering and seeing us on from one season to the next. We cannot underscore how much we value you all. We are excited to celebrate yet another momentous experience, with you all at our side. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. Thank you for taking the time to read through our story. Now, get ready; it’s #SantanaTime!