We're getting married!

"He has one more time to stand me up and he's going straight on my block list." This is what I thought to myself when I had reconnected with Jharel Massey for the third time outside of high school. Jharel and I have been knowing each other since the 8th grade. We often times talk about what school was like on our old stomping grounds of Crestwood Middle and East Kentwood High. The first time Jharel was introduced into my life by God I was 14 years old and he was 13. We had mutual classes together and at the time my girlfriends were interested in him and his background at Forest Hills but Me? Arrianna? I decided to mind my business because at the time I saw nothing special about Jharel. He ended up being the boyfriend of one of the girls whom I was friends with at the time and I was living my life. Once we got to high school, Jharel and I continued seeing one another around and having class with one another but it was nothing more than a "hello" "goodbye" and "excuse me." He was doing his thing at the time, and I was doing mine. Once junior year hit, Jharel had actually got the courage to ask me on a date for the first time. In which I said yes to! The plan was for us to go to the movies, so I had put on my best outfit! And guess what he did? He stood me up! Not a call, a text, not even a "Hey I can't make it!" I didn't even ask questions! Once we got back to school, I acted like his daddy was made of glass! Two years after that we were graduated and going on about our lives. Jharel was happily taken and so was I....So I thought. He had come around once again asking to take me on another date. But this time? To ride the scooters downtown. I said yes once again. But this time I played it much smarter and didn't get dressed until I got that, "I'm on my way" text. There was no way I was about to waste a fresh face of make up for a second time. But like I thought, I never got a text but what I DID get this time was him explaining that he forgot about our date the next day. Low key I was sad, but I knew what needed to be done. I left him alone for another two years until he learned to stop standing me up on dates! At this point I had begun strengthening my relationship with Christ and trying to become the woman of God I was called to be. So when Jharel came around one last time it was because I saw his brother had gotten married on Facebook and I reacted to it! Little did I know he'd try to talk to me again and take me on another date. This time around, being a woman of God and waiting on my Kingdom husband I knew if I was going to date, I couldn't like it lightly like I did before. Not only that, Jharel's track record was HORRIBLE! So, this time I had to put some pressure on the man to see how serious he was really willing to be about me. The plan was simple! Put the man under fire, make 'em sweat a little bit, and see if runs off! Little did I know those two years Jharel, and I didn't speak, he had also been trying to get right with Christ. Once Jharel and I had reconnected, our first date ended up being a bible date. I told him if he stands me up this time he's cooked! But remember when I said I saw nothing special about him back then? Well, this time around I saw everything special about Jharel. I saw the man of God in him, his potential, I saw all the personal growth he had done over the years, and instead of seeing who he was in that moment I saw everything that Jharel was called to be through Christ. Little did we know that some months later we'd be here. Celebrating our wedding with family and friends!