Forever Begins Here

Some love stories begin with a spark. Ours started with an AKA announcement party… and a very handsome man. It was December 2021, and my AKA celebration was held at his home. I definitely noticed him. A short while later, at my first sorority chapter meeting, I told my line sister, Quanetta, “Sis… your brother-in-law is handsome. Let me know when he’s ready to date!” She blinked in disbelief but said, “Okay, Sis… noted.” A few days later, on Christmas, Emmanuel made peanut brittle (a very strategic move, I'm convinced). Quanetta texted me to stop by and pick some up. And wouldn't you know it, about 30 minutes after I arrived, in walked the good-looking Boo himself. My heart noticed. Again. Fast forward to March 2022, when my sister, Lu, hosted a 40th birthday party for her husband, JR. I told QuaNetta, “Make sure you bring Chris to the party.” And when he walked in, my heart did a little dance. He was just as handsome as ever. We didn’t get to talk much, but what we did say was meaningful. And of course, I had to thank him for coming — after all, I did request his presence! Then came April. I was sitting in a session at my sorority’s regional conference when my phone lit up. It was Chris, sliding into my DMs. Sweet, unexpected, and perfectly timed. For the rest of the conference, I floated on cloud nine. In May, Chris had his 50th birthday party, and I was invited. We took pictures, laughed, and talked long after everyone left. Then came the wink-wink moment: Nanette, the matchmaker, sent the pictures in a group text. Just like that, we now had each other’s numbers. Naturally, I assumed I would hear from him soon. …Well, that didn’t happen. We saw each other again at Nanette's birthday and wedding anniversary party, where he promised to call so we could grab lunch or dinner. And again… nothing. Silence. Phone still not ringing.  Finally, on June 3, 2022, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I texted him to see if he had time to talk. His reply? “????” Sir… what? He didn’t even know it was me! (To be fair, he thought he had saved my number when Nanette sent the pics. His old phone had other plans.) Once the mystery was solved, we talked and laughed. I asked if he wanted to go to the Charlie Christian Jam Session that evening. His answer was an enthusiastic YES, and from that night on, the rhythm of our lives began to blend into one beautiful song.  By New Year’s Eve, we made it official and committed to being exclusive. The Proposal And on August 7, 2025, the handsome man who caught my eye in December 2021 asked me to marry him. I said YES with my whole heart. Forever Begins Here - March 27, 2026 Looking back, we cherish every step it took for us to open up, let our guards down, and truly get to know each other. We both had walls and never imagined our hearts could love so deeply again, but with God, anything is possible. He knew what He was doing when He aligned our paths and softened our hearts at the perfect time.  I thank God for him every single day. I appreciate his thoughtfulness, his respect, his quiet discretion, and the way he makes me feel safe in every way. I love me some him. He is my gentle giant, steady, comforting, and everything my heart needed. And now, with full hearts and grateful spirits, we begin forever on March 27, 2026.

Sometimes God has a funny way of placing people in your life quietly and patiently long before you realize what He’s up to. And trust me… He’s got jokes. That’s exactly how Colisha and I met. I had seen her a few times, but truth be told, I wasn’t really seeing anything. I was checked out of life during that season. Looking back, it was one of those moments where “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5–6) was already in motion even when I didn’t realize it. Our first encounter was purely passive. We were just two people in the same place celebrating her and her line sisters crossing into Alpha Kappa Alpha. No sparks, no fireworks… just vibes and refreshments. A few months later, I was invited to JR Nolan’s 40th birthday celebration. Colisha and I were once again in the same space, but this time by design, with a little help from mutual people. We exchanged a few polite words. Again, nothing memorable, at least not to me at the time. Apparently, God was taking notes though. Fast forward to later that year when my family threw me a surprise 50th birthday celebration. That’s when Nanette of course decided to step in and help God move things along. She sent both of us a picture, which led to us exchanging phone numbers. Still, life went on… or so I thought. Then one day, I received a random text asking if I could take a call. I had no idea who it was because the name and number didn’t show. For all I knew, it could’ve been a scam. Once I realized it was Colisha, we talked, laughed, and I accepted the invitation to attend the Charlie Christian Blues event. Best “unknown number” decision I’ve made in years. I’ll admit, things felt a little odd at first. I hadn’t been on a date in almost 30 years. At that point, I wasn’t just nervous I was rusty. So I did what made sense: I took it to God and prayed for direction and guidance. And once again, “In due time, He makes everything beautiful” (Ecclesiastes 3:11). He truly showed up right on time. Next came the drive-in movies, followed by hours of sitting in the car parked in front of Colisha’s house, just talking. We covered everything from relationship expectations, current events, careers, to our kids. The most valuable part to me was learning about her relationship with God. Somewhere between deep conversations and laughter, I knew this was different. After a few more dates, it became clear: she was someone special, someone sent by God. From galas and concerts to church services and traveling, every moment with her made me feel alive again. She was easy to talk to, easy to be around, and easy on the eyes too, lol. Let’s just say I had to upgrade my wardrobe… immediately. On New Year’s Eve 2024, I received confirmation that it was time to take the next step. I kept it to myself for a while, letting God guide the “how.” Then, in August, while we were on a cruise, the perfect moment presented itself. I asked. She said YES!!! God has truly brought me from a mighty long way, and for that, I’m beyond grateful. “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” - Corinthians 13:13