"I have found the one whom my soul loves..." Song of Solomon 3:4

- HOW WE MET- For those who don’t know, Mark & I have known each other for over 20 years… It all started at Northeast Elementary School, followed by by East Middle School, and ending at Brentwood High School. Although Mark & I never ran in the same circles, (I was the shy “church girl”, Mark was the popular Homecoming DJ), Mark and I always shared at least one class together, and when we did, Mark would always find a seat next to mine so he could get last nights homework, or an answer to a test… of course me being the nice “church girl” I let him have the answers. I didn’t mind because I thought he was cute… He was a tall, skinny kid that had amazing hazel eyes, and had a cute laugh… often he would be the class clown making jokes to make everyone laugh… when his friends were not around, he would be nice and say hello… but that was about it. We graduated High School, and went our separate ways. Over the years, he had 2 boys that he loves dearly, and although I didn’t have children, I was busy figuring out what I wanted, and helped raise a few nephews along the way… I didn’t hear anything about him until one day I got his friend request on Facebook. I was shocked and surprised. Why would he be friend requesting me? This was the popular kid from school!? I accepted. Over the next few months, we exchanged a couple of conversations about what we had been up to in the years since we graduated. He became a constant conversation each day… we texted or talked either on my way to work or coming home on the train… it wasn’t anything more than that because at the time I was in a relationship… after months of exchanges, he sent me a message about wanting to take me out to dinner. At the time, I had just come out of a horrible relationship and was not looking to start a new one until I was completely healed. He persisted and would ask every couple of months, and the response would be the same… “I’m not ready…” it wasn’t until 2020, that things changed. It was in the middle of the pandemic of COVID. I was working 2 jobs, and just trying to stay safe… on the other side Mark was working for a hospital system and trying to stay safe on his end too. The fact that we were both going through the same things we bonded over those conversations, and how the pandemic affected us. One day, while at work at the urgent care I was working at, I got a flower delivery. It was from Mark… Here I was literally what felt like swabbing and testing every person on Long Island for COVID, and he thought to surprise me to lift my spirits. He also had a pair of sneakers delivered to me so that while on my feet, I would be comfortable… I will never forget that gesture… - BECOMING AN "US"- After that we still kept in touch, and one day he asked me to go out… instead of saying no, I said yes… I’m glad I did. January 2021 was our first official date, and we have been inseparable ever since. Our journey has not been full of a bed of roses, we have faced a lot of challenges in our time together. I almost lost Mark to Congestive Heart Failure in May. Seeing him fight for his life, made me realize how much I loved and cared for him. The love that we have for each other outweighs any trial or tribulation that we have faced. For me, Mark is my biggest supporter, protector, and most of all my friend. He provides the security that I have always longed for. He is always ready and willing to provide me with whatever I want and need. - THE PROPOSAL - Here we are in 2023, and in true Mark fashion, as I was driving to work, he proposed by saying "you wanna marry me or what?" I brushed it off because I literally thought he was joking... but he wasn't. He had already asked my parents for their blessing. I am so happy that God allowed our paths to cross… it’s true that God gives you what you need, not what you want, but when you need it… and does it in His own timing. You just have to be patient. Our story is a true definition of “trust in God’s timing”…