It was a typical Saturday, I had just made a wonderful delicious cocktail at the new bar that my roommates and I had just put in. When our mutual friend said "Hey, I invited over my friend Irene to join us, can you guys please be normal for at least the first hour?" we all obliged. A few moments later there was a ding at the door and i walked over to greet Irene. I saw a hazy image of her through our stylized front doors and paused for a moment to prepare myself, not something that I normally do. I opened the door and said "Hello and welcome, my name is John." Irene replied with "Oh, I know you we have met before" and walked pasted without a second glance, leaving me there to pick up the shambles of my first attempt at "Hello". See, the thing is we had met previously as she said about a year and a half before that time, we spoke for the length of about five minutes and I didn't remember(because that is my super power "not remembering things"). Anyways, back to the story. Even though I fell flat on my face upon our initial re-meeting I was determined that I would use any excuse to ask her out on a date, because I knew in that moment in time that we were going to be together, the how we were going to was what I needed to find out. So about a week later, yes we've moved past my first defeat, I have my opportunity to ask her out, any excuse mind you and I did. I said "Would you like to grab coffee sometime? Sunday or early next week? Or rather because of quarantine would you like to come over and have some coffee and I attempt to make scones?" She agreed, and I had the wonderful task of trying to figure out how to make scones, something I have never done before. The first date went splendidly as did the scones. This marked a trend for our first dates, which was to make food we had never made before. The rest is history.

We often talk about how the world had to stop for us to reconnect. I was scheduled to travel the week after we met and would've be gone for the next month, then in and out throughout the summer. We had delayed the start of the work trip due to COVID, and in that time John mustered up the courage to “slide into my DMs (direct message)” and ask me for a cup a coffee. Our first date was sweet. John baked scones and made coffee, he put me in charge of music. I, feeling nostalgic, started playing country music (bold I know) – he took control of the music back after a few songs. Noted.. So he hates country music.. great. I obviously asked him why he hated country music, and as all country haters, he didn’t have a reason. He gave me back control of the music and I started playing a band I found during quarantine, turns out he was going to see them in concert and was one of his favorite bands. Not all was lost! In that moment, I didn’t know I was going to marry John, but I was impressed by him. He was very attentive (not just to me, but everyone), super hospitable, genuine, goofy. Today, I only am more impressed with him as time goes by. He loves courageously and unconditionally, hardly a day goes by I don’t see him smiling, although his puns are only getting worse… When I would pray for my future spouse, I asked for someone to grow/grow up with, someone I could build a life with. I wouldn’t have picked the timing (since the world and everyone seemed to be in shambles), but God proved me wrong, picking the perfect time, gifting me the chance to know this incredible man who not only matched all the hopes/qualities/expectations I desired in a spouse, but exceeds them, who is steadfast, hopeful and virtuous. I know marriage won’t be easy, or fix all of our problems, but I’m so excited to grow with you, John Royals. #ThanksCOVID