After meeting on Facebook Dating, Brent suggested Mariners HB, but Cheri refused to meet someone for the first time at her job. With plans for the rest of the week, Brent asked, “What about tonight?” Hesitant and curious, Cheri replied, “Okay… let’s just get it over with.” An hour and a half later they met in the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf parking lot in Seal Beach on one of the coldest, windiest nights of the year. The shop closed 15 minutes after they arrived, but neither wanted the evening to end, so they walked. Layered in one of Brent’s oversized sweatshirts over her sweater and jacket, they wandered for another hour and a half, talking about life, faith, family, and everything in between. Between the freezing wind, the laughter, and the easy conversation, two strangers quietly became something more. From the start, the relationship simply felt natural—like God had been writing a story neither of them could have planned, and both are so grateful He did.

A constant thread through their love story grew through daily love letters Brent would write each morning. That started a regular exchange of texts.

With the goal of keeping God at the center the relationship, they start and end every day in prayer over the phone.

"Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." — Ecclesiastes 4:12

Music has been a fun part of their dating. Early on Brent sent Cheri a song by Russell Dickerson, Yours, and then invited her to his and 17 other concerts.

From Rod Stewart, Guns and Rose to a Pink Floyd tribute band, they have enjoyed sharing a love of music.

One of the many things we’re grateful for is the new home God provided us. We will spend the summer getting it ready and then Cheri and Max will join Brent, after the wedding.

On Memorial Day, as we were putting up paint swatches and trying out pillows, Brent got down on his knee and proposed. Rod Stewart was playing in the background and there were many tears of joy!