A Little Bit about the Winning Couple – in their own words

I’ve been terrible about giving updates on the MMM. It’s been an absolute whirl-wind, and i havent worked this hard since i was VP of something or other at a pretty big company. I have to say, i absolutely love it. This couple, this event, everything – it really has brought my past to my present, and my present toward my future.

The Trifecta of Love – Hope, Belief and Faith. Live and in action. crazy, i tell ya!

So, here’s their story, in their own words:

Tell us why you want to be a part of the epic Maya Marriage of Many on 12.12.12.
Being a part of the epic Maya Marriage of Many on 12.12.12 would be an unforgettable experience and a day full of many memories. I would sincerely enjoy being a part of this because I believe my fiancé deserves a day so memorable, so unforgettable and so magical that we would have to look back at pictures to believe such a thing happened to us. I say my fiancé is so deserving because he has done so much to not only win my love and devotion but the love and respect of my family as well, something I thought would never happen. For you see, neither of us ever thought we would marry. For the last twenty something years I never wanted to marry because I had never met anyone I thought was worth my life long love, respect and utter devotion. Most of the gentleman I was privileged to meet seemed to be a bunch of curmudgeons, so my heart was hidden away among ivory towersand incased in ice. In all my years my fiancé Abel has been the only man to try and succeed in climbing over all the walls I had erected and melting the ice around my heart. I feel that being a part of this Maya Marriage would not signify the conclusion but the beginning of a lifetime of adventure, loveand laughter with a man who is a king among princes and better than any girlhood dream. Participating in the Maya Marriage of Many with my fiancé would make me feel as if I have truly lived, truly loved and done something I never thought I would: expose my heart.

Bio and History of the Couple
Abel Garcia Jr and Mary Janelle Franklin
Engaged October 8th, 2011 on top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France
Ring- 3 diamonds, (2 carats) from Zales

Abel’s info: Graduated from Lake Dallas HS in 2005 and went on to become a part time owner and Vice President of AFFM ( Abel’s Fine Furniture Movers) in Dallas.
Born in: Corpus Christi, Tx on July 29, 1986 Parents: Abel Sr and Rebecca Garcia

Janelle: Graduated from: Lake Dallas HS in 2006 and went on to graduate from Harding University May 2011 in Searcy, Ar. Majored in Social Sciences.
Born: February 18, 1987 in Dallas, Tx but grew up in Lae, Papua New Guinea. Parents: Willie and Pam Franklin.

Engagement story: We originally met in High School in 2005 but lost touch once I graduated and then three years ago we were reacquainted and have been best friends since then. October 1st we were scheduled to take a business trip to France for one our clients, Ligne Roset, for a period of ten days. Little did I know that Abel had previously asked my dad for my hand in marriage and had been carrying the ring around in his pocket trying to decide when and how to propose.I of course had no idea, I was just so exhausted from working but excited to be there and see the sights. October 8th, 2 days before we wee scheduled to return home, he suggested we visit the Eiffel Tower at night to see it light up and to see the view from the top. So after dinner we made our way over to the tower and made the decision to take the stairs and walk all the way up to the top! I was told that it is over 100 stories tall, so as you can imagine we had worked up a light sweat by the time we reached the top, but the view was beyond beautiful. For the next forty-five minutes we strolled around on the tower but I kept noticing Abel was engaging several people in conversations and seems a little distracted. He later told me he was “interviewing” people to try and find someone to record the proposal for our family back home. He ended up meeting this sweet couple from Moscow celebrating their one year anniversary and they agreed to record us so we could make a video for everyone at home. As soon as they hit the record button Abel got down on one knee and said something along the lines of this: ” Family, friends this is for all of you who are at home right now. I want to ask you, Janelle, to take this ring and be my wife and I want you to know that this is a symbol of our love and a promise that we will make it to our wedding; no quitting, no giving up because I want forever with you. Will you marry me? ” I of course was crying and smiling and disbelieving that he would do something so publicly. During the proposal a crowd of 250 or more had gathered around and were cheering and taking pictures, which just added to the excitement. We returned home two days, shared the news with our families and they, of course, were laughing and crying and happy as could be. Ever since then, Abel and I have been planning to join or lives together and live as man and wife. Some say we have lived a fairytale, but I say it has been better than any fairytale and Abel has been better than any prince I could have dreamed of.

Janelle