As many of you know, in September 2020, my parents purchased a rental property on St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands. With my senior year at MSU being conducted virtually, I joined them for what was meant to be a brief visit. However, I ended up extending my stay. By November 2020, I had packed up my apartment and relocated permanently to St. John, and dove into the search for both employment and housing.

Fortunately, finding a job was easy. Through a friend, I had learned of and applied to a job at a local restaurant, The Banana Deck. I walked in, inquired about a position with the manager Keaten, and was hired immediately, starting the following week. Initially, our relationship was professional, but by the summer of 2021, Keaten and I transitioned from colleagues to something more. In July, he asked me to be his girlfriend and since then, our life together on St. John has been a series of joyful moments.

We feel incredibly blessed with our happy life on the island, now made even brighter by the presence of our two adorable cats, Frankie and Milo. Our days are spent working as Keaten continues to run the restaurant where we first met, while I’m deeply involved in property management and selling high-end jewelry. Each hurricane season, we seize the opportunity to travel, exploring new destinations and visiting family. This past September, our travels took us to Spain, Croatia, and Italy.

While in Spain visiting my second sister Mar, Keaten planned a truly unforgettable proposal. We took a ferry to the island of Cíes, where we spotted dolphins, hinting at the exciting day ahead. On the island, Keaten suggested an unexpected hike to the highest point. Once we made it to the top, sweaty and all, we were greeted with the most amazing view of the sea. It was at this point that Keaten handed his phone to a stranger to capture something special.

At that moment, Keaten, both nervous and shirtless, proposed to me after two amazing years together. The proposal was perfect to us, and marked the start of the rest of our lives together.

We are filled with happiness at the thought of celebrating this special occasion with family and friends from all over. We can’t wait to marry in beautiful Temecula and share this day with all of you!

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