Carl was the new boy at Arrowhead Elementary School in 2004. I thought he was in the wrong grade because he was so tall and much bigger than everyone in the class. I despised Carl because he was mean to me. One day, I was in trouble for talking too much in class and I was punished by being sent to the end of the line and low and behold...Carl was at the end of the line. Carl pulled my hair again and I told the administrator—he got in trouble. When we returned to class the next day, we had new assigned seating and Carl was sitting right across from me and he wanted revenge. He would pick on me the entire class period so I started to pick on him as well. He wore a lemon yellow sweater to class one day and I asked him if his grandmother knitted that to match his teeth and we both got in trouble. Eventually, Carl asked for my phone number and I don't know why, but I gave him my number. Carl called my house and my brother Michael answered the phone. Carl asked for me and I could hear my brother screaming that I'm only 9 and I can't have boys calling for me. Let's just say Carl never called my house again asking for me. I called from now on. Carl asked me to be his girlfriend and as shortly as I met him, Carl moved away and disenrolled at Arrowhead Elementary School. When we lost connection, I searched for Carl on MySpace and found him. Carl was 16 and I was 14 when we reconnected. I was forbidden to go on dates until 16, but as a teenager, I found a way to see him. We went to the movies a lot but we remained friends--best friends until our undergraduate years. We did everything together over the phone due to being 6 hours away from each other. Eventually, we gave it another shot in 2014 and we have been inseparable ever since. God placed and removed Carl from my life three separate times after I prayed for a good man each time. We are destined to be together. He is my forever soulmate.

It was our third night in Las Vegas and we had a lot planned for the day. After breakfast, we decided to go mini-golfing at the Rio All-Suites Hotel & Casino. There were 18 holes and we are both very competitive with each other, therefore, it was game time! When the game ended, Carl walked over to the counter to turn in our clubs. I started calculating the points and as I thought, I beat him. I was so eager to tell him that I beat him--he disappeared. Mini-golfing was inside and it was dark. I was hot, irritated, sweating, and ready to go! The cashier kept questioning me--over and over. It was extremely agitating that I couldn't find Carl and the cashier was interrogating me. Eventually, I heard Carl's voice behind the pillars call for my name. I walked behind the pillars and I see Carl on bended knee asking for my hand in marriage. I was frozen and in awe! I knew it was coming but I didn't know how soon it was coming! I said yes and floated away as an engaged woman...