We Eloped! Celebrate through photos and reading our love story 🤍

In June 2020, I had just moved back to New Jersey to live with my cousin. It was the height of COVID, and dating was the last thing on my mind. I had no plans to entertain anyone, build a roster, or even go out—I was focused on getting back to New York City. One day, my cousin suggested I download Hinge just to see who was out there. I thought, why not? With everything shut down, I figured no one would actually ask me to go anywhere, so at best, it would be a little harmless entertainment. As I scrolled, I came across Lloyd’s profile. There wasn’t a single face photo—just a video of him bench pressing 315 pounds for 40 reps. My first thought? I was impressed. My comment was simple: “You ate those for breakfast.” He responded the next day. We talked for less than 24 hours before he did something bold—he called me on the app. No hesitation, no games. During that call, he asked if I’d like to join him at a secret gym he knew was open, and I appreciated that he’d paid attention to my love for fitness. It felt thoughtful—like he wanted to meet me in my element. I said yes… and brought my cousin along for backup. When we arrived, I stepped out of the car and heard what felt like a loud boom, almost as if worlds had collided. A sudden, brilliant light—not the sun—seemed to shine directly in my eyes. And then there he was. Lloyd. From the moment we met, I felt his kindness and warmth. He was easy to talk to, effortlessly funny, and made me laugh right away. He asked how much I could squat, explaining that he’d planned our workout around it. I told him my personal best was 315 pounds, but after losing about 15 pounds during COVID, I’d only been training with kettlebells lately. With complete confidence, he said, “I believe you can hit 225.” I smiled, nervous but intrigued, and decided to try. He cheered me on the entire time—supportive without being overbearing—and I nailed 225 pounds like it was nothing. That day, I didn’t just hit a new rep; I gained a new friend.

Lloyd and I had only been dating for a month. Our first date was July 20, 2020, and by August 15, 2020, we were already planning our first hike together. Now, I’m an adventurous person by nature—or at least, that’s what I like to think. So when Lloyd asked if I liked hiking, I answered “yes” with full confidence… the same kind of “yes” any normal person gives when they’re newly dating and trying to come across as fun and interesting. I found this hike in Vernon, NJ called Stairway to Heaven—and let me tell you, it was a complete catfish hike. At first, it seemed like something out of a postcard: green pastures, wildflowers, and cows grazing under the summer sun. It was all so peaceful… until we reached the base of the real hike. Before we started the climb, Lloyd stopped and said, almost prophetically, “We need to choose a staff.” He explained it would help us keep our balance as we made our way up the mountain. But for Lloyd, it wasn’t just about practicality—it felt like a calling. The staff he chose was strong, sturdy, and perfectly sized for either of us to lean on when needed. I didn’t know it at the time, but that moment was foreshadowing—the very staff we would one day jump over during our wedding ceremony. Then came the real challenge: a steep incline of nothing but rocks, requiring stretches of scrambling on our hands and knees. At one point, my inner thoughts were spiraling: “I don’t even really know this man. What if I die on this mountain? Why did I say I was a hiker?” But in that moment, Lloyd showed me who he truly was. He coached me, encouraged me, and checked on me constantly. Whenever one of us got tired, we switched roles—passing the lead back and forth like we’d been a team forever. Somewhere along the way, we stopped and carved our initials into a tree, marking the moment as ours. And when we finally reached the top, sweaty, breathless, and side by side, it felt nothing short of magical—like the mountain had been waiting for us. That hike was a 7.3 mile loop. Our first journey. It symbolized to Lloyd and I that for however long we would be together we would need each other for the ultimate climb.

We’ve all had that thought: “Things are going too well… when is the other shoe going to drop?” And let me tell you—when you’re building a relationship, shoes will fall from the sky. Plenty of them. Combining families, friends, traditions, and expectations is not easy. Nothing about love is perfect, and no journey comes without challenges. Sometimes, we don’t even go looking for the shoe—God places it in our path. Not to break us, but to grow us. The key is learning to discern: What’s toxic versus what’s simply uncomfortable? What’s ungodly versus what’s just unfamiliar? Most of the time, if we’re honest, we know the answer. We just choose to ignore it. But sometimes, the storm hits so hard, you can’t tell if it’s meant to teach you or test you. I’ve learned that the way you know if something is truly a God thing comes down to a few questions: Does your partner pray over you and with you—or not at all? Do they help you elevate in life, or do they keep you stagnant, weighed down by their presence? And when the hard times come—because they will—does your spirit still feel settled and safe? All of these things were tested while Lloyd and I were dating. We had a lot of healing to do—individually and together. There were moments when we felt alone and even alienated. And yet, instead of walking away, we chose to fight for ourselves and for each other. Through it all, I kept seeing God’s hand at work. Every time we were stretched thin, He provided. Every time we felt stuck, opportunities flooded in. When we didn’t know how we’d make ends meet, grace saved us. And when it was finally time for us to step into the next chapter, everything fell into place seamlessly—doors opened, paths cleared, and blessings overflowed. Lloyd and I have always been a God thing. And as we enter this next stage of our journey, we’ll continue to follow His path—trusting that no matter what shoes fall, we’ll walk through it together.

If you’ve followed our journey this far, I hope you see the pattern: God’s favor has been with us every step of the way. In every adventure, every long drive, and through every person we’ve met, His hand has guided Lloyd and me. Truly, it was nothing but God that brought us to our home in Arizona. In 2023, I was serving as the Head Volleyball Coach at Girard College while also working as a Physical Therapy Front Desk Assistant. Lloyd was piecing together odd jobs, but both of us longed for something more—something stable and lasting. But to understand how we got here, we have to rewind to April 2022. We had a free timeshare trip and chose Scottsdale, Arizona. And in true “us” fashion, we didn’t take the simple route—we flew from Philadelphia to Dallas, then road-tripped 16 hours across the desert to Phoenix. It became one of those unforgettable adventures: sleeping in the car, laughing until our stomachs hurt, and creating memories with my person. When we finally arrived in Scottsdale, something shifted. We fell in love with Arizona instantly. The air felt different, lighter. There was a peace we hadn’t experienced before. Surrounded by mountains, healthy food spots, and the great outdoors, we looked at each other and asked: “Could you see us living here?” We prayed on it, and together, we made a plan: 2025. That was when we’d make Arizona our home. But as Scripture says, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21). Fast forward to 2023—Lloyd was driving for the Red Cross when he discovered an internal job opening in Phoenix. He applied, interviewed, and got the position. Suddenly, our timeline shifted. We were headed to Phoenix right after my volleyball season ended. At the same time, I had been interviewing for fitness leadership roles at Temple University and the University of Delaware. Both doors closed, each rejection stinging a little. But looking back, it wasn’t rejection—it was redirection. One day, almost casually, I searched “fitness jobs in Phoenix.” And there it was: Fitness Coordinator at Grand Canyon University. Honestly, I didn’t think I had a chance. It was a collegiate position, classes started in August, and we weren’t even moving until November. So I walked into the interviews with complete peace, simply sharing my story and who I was. Then in July, I got the call: I got the job. Not only that—they loved me so much, they said they would hold the position until I arrived in December. That was nothing but God’s grace and favor. So here we are: two people who once planned for 2025, now walking in God’s accelerated timeline in 2023. Because when He says it’s time, the doors open seamlessly, the path clears, and the blessings overflow.

Now, how we got to Arizona is a story in itself. We told our moms that we wanted to turn our move out west into an adventure vacation. They listened quietly, not giving much opinion, but letting us make our own grown decisions. We packed up two apartments and decided to leave on the same day. Running on adrenaline, we took a quick nap, then hit the road. About 30 minutes later, we made it to the Delaware Memorial Bridge—already exhausted. We pulled over at a hotel just across the bridge, and thank God we did, because that’s when the first act of God happened. Lloyd noticed the trailer lights on our U-Haul (car in tow) weren’t working. If we had kept driving at night, it could have been dangerous. The next morning, Lloyd called U-Haul, and the only mechanic who could fix it was two and a half hours away. That delay gave us the morning to rest. When the mechanic arrived, he discovered something even more alarming—our car wasn’t properly chained to the trailer. One bad bump, and it could have rolled right off. Once everything was secured and fixed, we finally got back on the road. That night, exhausted again, we pulled off at a hotel somewhere in Virginia. Act of God #2 happened there. The hotel didn’t usually allow public restroom use, but the front desk attendant let us slide. While I waited for Lloyd, she struck up a conversation. I was half-listening until she asked about our route. Originally, our plan was to head through Tennessee, hike in the Appalachian Mountains, stop in Nashville and Memphis, then continue through St. Louis, Kansas City, Santa Fe, and finally Arizona. When I told her, she said she had driven cross-country five times and always took I-40 West. That stuck with me—in my spirit and in my heart. I told Lloyd, and after the exhausting first day, we seriously considered a reroute. To our mothers’ relief, we decided to switch to I-40. Looking back, that was God guiding us through that front desk attendant. The very day we planned to hike, it rained. In St. Louis, it snowed—the exact day we would’ve been towing a U-Haul and car through icy roads. And instead of an 8-day trip, we made it in 5. That road trip became more than a move—it was a growth journey for Lloyd and me, covered by God’s protection and our mothers’ prayers.

It’s hard to believe we’re coming up on two years of living in Arizona—and it truly has been the best decision we could have made. There’s a peace in the desert, a sense of rebirth and reawakening of the spirit. We’ve established our lives here—me at GCU as the Fitness Programs Coordinator and Lloyd at Vitalant Blood Donation as an Account Manager. Our circle of friends continues to grow as we meet new people each week. We’ve found a church home at Kingdom in the Valley, hiked countless mountains and trails, and explored the beauty of the West, from California to Mexico. This place has become our oasis, and we can’t wait to share it with you someday. We are thriving here, grateful every day that God led us to Arizona. As we continue building our home, we invite you to be part of our journey. We’re saving for a second car, a dog, and—hopefully—little ones in the future. We love you, we thank you for your constant support, and we ask for your continued prayers as we step into this next chapter.