An Abbreviated History
Dating
Dennis started going to Bible study at Faith Alliance in 2003 when he graduated from UIUC. Five years passed. After graduating from Illinois Wesleyan in 2007, Damaris also started attending Northside Bible study!
The summer passed without the two interacting much (at all). She wondered who the Indian kid that showed up to Bible study was and he kept to himself. She sent him a text message on his birthday (but only because their small group leader, Steve, told everyone to do so). She thought he was "out" (on the town). This would prove to be the source of many laughs later on.
Before they knew it, the fall had passed. Small group took a break for Christmas and New Year's, and all of them went out to eat dinner at Graziano's. Over the course of dinner, Dennis began to explain that one of his co-workers had told him that he would be a lot more likeable if he talked more. Using the paper table covers and the provided crayons, Dennis grew a graph for what the co-worker was describing. Happening to sit next to him, Damaris took a crayon and drew a corrected graph that approached a limit. She then questioned the spelling of likability (she felt that it ought to be likeability). Well, even though she was just 1 for 2 there, Dennis' heart was aflutter. Even more so when she texted him later that night to concede that likability was the preferred spelling of scholars of renown (well, in the dictionary).
And so began The Age of Messaging (Facebook, then Text): stories, jokes, links, etc. The texts began to get more frequent and get-to-know-you in nature, asking questions like "Do you hike?" and "Urban or rural?" Finally Dennis smoothly texted, "I was going to ask about your life story and hobbies but I don't know if my phone bill can handle it. How about dinner sometime?" After an excruciating half an hour, Damaris replied, "Sorry if I gave you the wrong impression, but I don't know you like that." Undaunted, Dennis continued his pursuit. The textual relationship continued, while Damaris freaked out because she was actually beginning to like this guy. He asked if he could call sometime and she said no. Dennis ended up calling and they talked for an hour and a half. Finally, Damaris agreed to a coffee date at Dunkin Donuts. They met after her shift ended at 10pm. They talked until 2am and also coincidentally ran into Dave and Mai...(awkward!) Several coffee dates (and crossword puzzles) led to dinner, which led to dinner and a movie.
In February Damaris went on vacation and realized she missed Dennis (hmmm). She changed her work schedule to free her evening of the 14th in case Dennis should suggest Valentine's Day plans(which he kind of did but not really because he didn't know it was Valentine's Day until his sister told him the day before). Regardless, they went on a date and they knew something special was happening.
It was April 4th, 2008. Damaris had made the date plans. They went to Humboldt Park to eat Puerto Rican food and then to the Planetarium for First Friday. And that's when it became official.
Proposal
Our one year anniversary was on Saturday, April 4, 2009. When I got to her apartment, she had put up little colored PostIts on the walls that said what she was thankful for in our relationship. It was very sweet and a wonderful connection to what was to come the next day. I gave her ABC3D as a small anniversary present - one I knew would get better with time but leave her a little bewildered at the moment.
We went out to dinner at Nia’s Restaurant (don’t bother, except for their ridiculously luxurious hand soap) to celebrate. Damaris brought up a conversation with her brother in which she had told him that she hoped to be engaged before we went down to Oklahoma to visit them. She mentioned it a few other times. I did not respond outwardly to these hints. Afterwards, we watched Monsoon Wedding (coincidental pick on my part) and then when I said I was leaving, she asked, “Is there anything else you wanted to do?”“Like, juggle or something?” I said.“No! I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”
After service at Faith Alliance (where one of Pastor Victor’s points was faithfulness to the promises we make), we went back to my apartment to study - like we usually do. I got there before her and when she walked in, she was all smiles (later she said, “I told you I wouldn’t cry”). I asked her to sit down and explained what I’d made for her. Then I asked her if she would be my wife and she said “Yes!”
If you would like the full (and we do mean FULL) version, then you can go to Dennis’ blog.
We were lucky enough to get our engagement photos taken by the amazing Kenny Nakai.
Wedding
We were married on June 6, 2010!