Our marriage was dead. Neither of us wanted reconciliation. Then God stepped in.

In the very first episode of Restored + Rising, we're sharing the story behind this podcast-and the marriage we never believed could be restored.

Our relationship had deteriorated to the point of divorce, lawyers, anger, broken trust, infidelity, and almost no communication. We were living separate lives, and eventually, both of us were ready to move on. In our minds, there was nothing left to save.

But God had other plans.

We share how one woman at church continued encouraging Melina to pray for her marriage when almost every other voice was saying to walk away, and what happened when she finally did. God didn't begin by changing the circumstances. He began by changing her heart.

And neither of us was looking for reconciliation. Eddie had reached a place where he was genuinely content moving forward as a single father. Yet God began doing what neither of us could have orchestrated ourselves: turning two hearts back toward Him and ultimately back toward each other.

We also talk honestly about forgiveness, repentance, infidelity, the voices you allow to speak into your marriage, rebuilding after broken trust, and why restoration isn't about going back to the marriage you had, it's about allowing God to build something new.

We aren't marriage experts.

We're a marriage miracle.

If your marriage feels hopeless, or you're wondering whether God can really change a heart, this episode is for you.

📖 Scripture: Ezekiel 37:3–5
“Son of man, can these bones live?”

Because if God can breathe life into dry bones, we believe He can breathe life into what looks impossible.

Welcome to Restored + Rising. ❤️