Our Story

Felipe is the kindest, most caring, thoughtful, fun loving, not to mention HANDSOME person I have ever met (No exageration and I'm definitely not biased at all). I realized I had something special when I was working on a first anniversary gift for him. I created a little book with "52 things I love about you". I had no trouble coming up with 52 things, in fact, I had plenty of extras! One of the facts was that Felipe is someone my younger brother Arthur, who passed away in 2007, would be proud of. Arthur was VERY protective of me and no one was ever good enough. Though they didn't have the chance to meet on this earth, I know Arthur would have loved Felipe and completely approved - and his seal of approval is treasured. I have found the one person who I can be completely myself with - I didn't even realize that was possible! He loves the goofy me, the adventerous me, the lazy me, the me who's killing it at work and the me who's nervous about speaking in front of people. He makes me a happier and better person every single day.

There were several times when I knew that she was the one. Even at the start I knew that she was the type of girl you marry. Someone that I could spend the rest of my life with. That was the first sign, then all the others started coming when I started realizing that I could hang out with her not only as a couple but also as a friend, and that even from the start she got along amazingly with my friends and became part of my group of friends. My family loved her from the start. I remember Nathalie saying "I haven't seen Felipe in love like that ever". I realized we would be in it for the long run when she went to Europe for a couple weeks. I missed her so much, I felt incomplete and needed her back. When I was facing the danger of having to move back to Panama and the prospect of being without her, I realized I couldn't imagine life without her in it and I knew I wanted her to be my fiance and future wife. I knew she was the one and only one for me AND BOY WAS I RIGHT!

Felipe

Felipe

I was talking to Rachael's sister through facebook chat and she happened to mention that she had a sister. Rachael thought that we had met each other at a party and we added each other on facebook. We met in person at her brother's birthday party and after that you know the rest!

Our first *official* date was in September of 2011. We had many college student type dates to taco bell and the Granville (local bar), but the first fancy evening out (including FLOWERS!) was to the Spaghetti factory in downtown Louisville. We dressed up, got the best table in the restaurant, and Rachael proceeded to spill spaghetti all over herself. Note to singles - DON'T order spaghetti on your first date! Felipe must have found it endearing because he stuck around :)

Quick Facts

Where: Louisville, KY

When: January, 2011

How: Facebook!

We actually technically "met" online - I went to a Panamanian party in Louisville and met a bunch of Panamanians… So I added them all on facebook, including Felipe, who wasn't even at the party! He was friends with my sister and after checking to make sure I wasn't a creepy stalker, he accepted my friend request and started facebook chatting me RIGHT away. We started chatting often, and as he was friends with both of my siblings he came to my older brother's birthday party. Being an international student, he didn't have a car here, so I picked him up in the little Yaris and the rest is history!

How We Met

Rachael

Our First "Official" Date

They arrived at the bed and breakfast safely, checked in, were surprised with an upgraded room, and got ready for a nice dinner out. As Rachael was checking on something in the lobby, Felipe (who had gone to get the car) showed up inside covered in snow. The car was stuck! The front desk attendant came out to help and eventually with the help of him and another hotel guest, Rachael and Felipe were free and on their way to dinner!

My first impression of Felipe was that he was a flirt! After all, he did start talking to a complete stranger via facebook out of the blue (No comment on the fact that I added a complete stranger on facebook :p). In all seriousness, I thought he was cute and had the kind of personality that made me want to be around him. He was wearing a blue tobaggan (which he still has!) and we started watching the Land Before Time. I reverted back to 15 year old Rachael and wanted to strategically place myself next to him so I could "accidentally" touch his hand. That didn't work out (Thank goodness!) so I ended up playing a board game in the other room. Lucky for me, now I get a lifetime of purposeful hand grazes and snuggles!

First Impressions of Each Other

I thought Rachael was cute and silly (in a good way), and a little bit of a hippie. She seemed like a lot of fun. I also gathered that she was very close to her family. We officially met at her brother's birthday party and she was all over the place. She was playing a board game with her brother because it was his birthday (even though she told me she actually wanted to be hanging out with me but wanted to be a good sister so she played Diplomacy instead).

Rachael

Felipe

When We Realized...

Rachael

***Spoilers***

Romantic valentine's day getaway

Snowstorm

Long drive through said snowstorm

Car Stuck

Perserverence

Magic!

And Finally... The Proposal!

Rachael should have known something was up when Felipe ordered two glasses of champage when she was only halfway through her first drink!

After a delicious dinner, Felipe suggested they walk around the courtyard on the levee to see the snow. They walked through the mall because it was FREEZING and went out to a little balcony on the second floor. Rachael started taking pictures of the snow on the levee because it was beautiful.

Rachael turned around to show Felipe the photo and saw him on one knee! She said yes, then saw the ring, then jumped up and down, then said yes again!

Every Valentine's day Felipe plans a special dinner and surprises Rachael with the location (to the point of hiding the GPS and coughing loudly when it starts to give instructions). This year they decided to stay the night in a bed and breakfast - they love little getaways and since Valentine's day fell on a Friday they decided to do a weekend. Throughout the work day it began to snow lightly, then a little more, until it was time to head out and the snow was really coming down! Felipe picked Rachael up from work and they started the (long) snowy trip to the bed and breakfast.

When they sat down, Felipe realized he'd "forgotten" his wallet and went to the car to get it. Rachael looked like she'd been stood up and got some sympathy glances, but Felipe soon showed back up with roses and a balloon!

Snow was still coming down as they started the *secret* drive to dinner. They drove through the snow to a neat little spot that Rachael loves in Newport, KY called Newport on the Levee and ate at an Itallian restaurant called Brio (which was amazing!)