While shopping in a department store, a woman came up to us and said that she just had to take our picture because we were so cute!
I remember the first time I saw Elisa. I was working at Bentley Systems, and this quiet pretty girl suddenly started sitting at the end of the row. I learned that she was an intern, and at the time she had just finished high school. While I was intrigued by this quiet girl, I decided that she was too young for me to be interested in dating.
One day, Elisa was in a meeting along with me, and I saw her in the kitchen afterwards. I decided to strike up a conversation, and I asked her if I was pronouncing her name correctly as “E – liss – ah”, and she assured me that I was. We made some other small talk, then went our separate ways. Then I found her on the company instant messenger, and we started talking more often.
As I got to know Elisa, I discovered that she had a different sense of humor from most people, and that she loved to read. I let her borrow quite a few books that I had enjoyed, and that had helped me grow personally in my life. I also found out that she was from a large family, and that she was a Christian. We became friends, and talked often.
Once Elisa went off to college at the University of Delaware, I visited her a couple times, and kept up a friendship with her. At this point I saw her only as a friend, as I didn’t think that she would be a good match for me, and I still thought she was too young for me to date her.
Over the next 2 years, we developed a closer friendship. I was dating another girl, and it was becoming more and more apparent to me that I was attracted to many of the character qualities in Elisa, and less attracted to the qualities in the girl I was dating (I don’t mean that as an insult… we just weren’t a good fit). When my prior relationship ended, I already knew that I wanted to start dating Elisa. She felt the same way, and so we started the next level of our relationship.
As Elisa and I grew closer and spent more time together, I realized very quickly that she was the girl I wanted to marry and spend the rest of my life with. This was confirmed when I opened up a document on my computer that I had written a few years earlier. This document was a list of all the characteristics of the woman that I wanted to be my wife. I discovered that Elisa was almost a perfect match! From this point on, it was only a matter of time until we officially made the decision to get married.
Over the past year, we’ve had plenty of fun times, as well as a few difficulties. Neither of us is perfect, and sometimes we’re both selfish, but we know that we’re perfect for each other. I feel so humbled every time I make a mistake or act selfishly, and Elisa chooses to forgive me and we move forward together. While it may be cliché to quote 1 Corinthians 13, it is the most true and accurate description of love, and I can honestly say that Elisa shows that love to me every day, and I do my best to show that kind of love to her.
Right now, as I look back to where we have come from, I can clearly see how blessed I am to not only have Elisa in my life, but to also have her as my best friend and soon-to-be wife. Our wedding is only a few short weeks away, and I am indescribably excited to officially begin our lives together. I know that there’s no one else I would rather be with, and I truly believe that God has led us together in a way that only He could orchestrate.
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