Meet Irene and Christian

We’ve been happily married for over 30 years, and it all started at Walmart—where Christian still jokes that he was Irene’s boss (a claim that, let’s be honest, no one except Christian believes).

At the time, Christian was an Assistant Store Manager, and Irene managed the Jewelry Department. Just before Christian left Walmart, he finally asked Irene out. But let’s just say it wasn’t a smooth start—it took getting stood up three times before she finally agreed to go out with him.

During our dating years, Christian worked at Walmart, Target, and Michael’s Arts and Crafts. It was a job with Michael’s that eventually moved us to Austin. That transfer marked the start of a brand-new chapter, as Irene left the Rio Grande Valley—her lifelong home—and we began building our life together in a new city.

Our Love Story

From Edinburg to Harlingen: A Tale of Two Backgrounds

Irene is originally from Edinburg, Texas, where she lived until Christian uprooted her after we got married. Christian was born in Denmark and moved to Harlingen, Texas, at age 11—without speaking a word of English, as he still likes to remind everyone.

Irene went to Edinburg High School, home of the Fighting Bobcats, and Christian attended Marine Military Academy (MMA) in Harlingen, proudly representing the Fighting Bulldogs. We still have a friendly rivalry over which mascot is tougher.

A Family Built on Love and Resilience

Together, we’ve built a wonderful family—four children and four beautiful grandchildren, with a fifth expected in July 2025. Over the years, our journey has been filled with incredible joys and, undeniably, some very challenging moments.

As most of you know, one of those challenges came in October of 2021. That season of our lives has been incredibly hard—something no words can fully capture. But even in the midst of heartbreak, our love and commitment to each other—and to our family—have remained unshaken.

That bond has become the foundation of everything we’ve built, and we hope it will continue to be a source of strength for generations to come.