Meet Irene and Christian

Irene and Christian have been happily married for over 30 years. Their story began at Walmart, where Christian humorously claims he was Irene's boss—a claim everyone, except Christian, knows isn't true. At the time, Christian was an Assistant Store Manager, and Irene was the Manager of the Jewelry Department. Just before leaving Walmart, Christian asked Irene out, but it took being stood up three times before she finally went out with him.

While they were dating, Christian worked for Walmart, Target, and Michael's Arts and Crafts. It was Michael's that eventually transferred Christian to Austin, uprooting Irene from the Rio Grande Valley, where she had lived her entire life, and starting their new chapter together in Austin.

Our Love Story

From Edinburg to Harlingen: A Tale of Two Backgrounds

Irene hails from Edinburg, TX, where she lived until Christian uprooted her after their marriage. Christian grew up in Denmark and moved to Harlingen, TX, at the age of 11. As he likes to remind everyone, he didn’t speak a word of English when he first arrived. Irene attended Edinburg High School, home of the Fighting Bobcats, while Christian attended Marine Military Academy (MMA) in Harlingen, proudly representing the Fighting Bulldogs.

A Family Built on Love and Resilience

Irene and Christian have built a wonderful family, including four children and four grandchildren, with a fifth grandchild expected in 2025. Over the years, their journey has been filled with joyful highs and, undeniably, some very challenging moments. Through it all, their love and commitment to each other and their family have remained steadfast, creating a strong foundation for generations to come.