HER STORY Roger and I both went to HU. I knew who he was; we had a few mutual friends. Plus, he's a Que and they're pretty well known on campus. Because of his Greek affiliation, I wrote him off as loud and crazy (sorry!!). Almost 10 years after I graduated, our friend Xayna had a 30th birthday party. Roger and I sat across from each other at lunch and I found him to be hilarious. I was dating someone else, so I wasn't "checking for him" (i.e. looking for a relationship) - but I did realize I had severely misjudged him all those years earlier. He was sweet, kind, smart, and witty. And hysterical! I hadn't laughed so hard in a long time. Over the next few months we had a few stops and starts in communication until I finally called him out on Facebook for not calling me (a whole 9 months after meeting). From there we started to talk daily. We spent nearly a year building a friendship and solid foundation before making our relationship official. HIS STORY I knew of Erika at HU but she only made cameos on campus so I didn't really know her. Interestingly enough, I knew a majority of her friends. Fast forward 10 years; I go to Xayna's birthday party and she's there. I thought she was cute (signature top-knot) and asked Xayna about her. I still thought she could be one of those uppity "Jack and Jill" types but she was cool and down to earth. We spoke a little but she was clearly not interested. We became friends on Facebook and communication was intermittent 'cause I wasn't on her radar. Yes, she did call me out on Facebook and now look where it got me (lol)! So, after reconnecting and many conversations, I came to find out this witty deacon is completely amazing. She is a supportive, intelligent, caring and gorgeous woman that has changed my life. Once the dust settled we were able to venture to a relationship that has made us both better people. Started from the DMs and now we here!

July 8, 2017 was an extraordinarily ordinary day. Roger and I (mostly me) decided it was a good idea to take five children (his two children - Roger and Londyn - and my niece and nephews - Trey, Imani, and Julian) to the Museum of Natural History in Washington, DC. On the way to the museum, I suggested we take the kids to Howard University, where we both went to college, and Roger agreed it was a good idea. After a couple hours at the museum, the whole squad headed to campus. I was able to snap one photo of all five kids in front of Founders Library before the children took off running in five different directions to play an epic game of freeze tag and hide-and-go-seek. I was too worried about counting running children and making sure everyone was safe to notice that Roger had a few tricks up his sleeve. While the children played, Roger mentioned to me that he had something to give me and produced a long, thin box. Inside was a replica of Hermoine's wand from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I'm a huge Potter-head and Roger purchased it as a gift for me a few months earlier. I appreciated his gift - but I'd totally be lying if I didn't think the timing was a little random. Anyway, I just continued to count running children (yup, there were still five!) and listening to their shrieks of joy. Roger urged me to take the wand out of the box and make a wish. For like five minutes the conversation was "make a wish," "I'm not making a wish," "just make a wish." I finally relented, took out the wand, closed my eyes and "made a wish" (and promptly went back to worrying about the children and wondering who was watching them while my eyes were closed). "Did you make your wish," Roger asked. "Yes," Roger followed this response with, "now open your eyes." When I opened my eyes I saw Roger down on one knee, on the yard of our beloved university, with a ring box in hand. How did he know what I wished for?! I said "YES" and the rest is history!

After the wedding, we will honeymoon at the Sandals Halcyon Beach Resort in St. Lucia. We plan to make our home in the Baltimore, MD area.