LaVonne and I met on a dating site. Bumble, to be specific. I picked Bumble because I knew that only black men who were serious about dating on Bumble. I was extremely frustrated and over dating, but I had been gifted a candle by someone who thanked me for my generosity, and I prayed over the candle to bring me someone who was genuinely meant for me. At the same time, I made a saying to God because I didn’t trust my judgment anymore, that if this person said this very specific word that I know that it would be from him and not for myself. After not wanting to swipe LaVonne for several reasons, one because he was so smiley in all his pictures. He looks genuinely happy. I decided to take a risk, and I don’t remember much of our conversation prior to meeting, but I do remember meeting him on Mother’s Day after asking him to go for a walk with me. The second that I saw him, I said in my head, “Game on” and it’s been game on ever since. The game changer in our relationship was when we booked a trip to Utah after knowing each other for probably two months. I was expecting her to want to go somewhere where there was a beach or somewhere relaxing, but instead she wanted to go hiking in Utah. I thought she was crazy, and it was exciting at the same time. During that trip, I trusted her with my life driving up steep mountains, and she trusted me with her health in staying out of the sun. After that, we knew we had a bond that was special. Meeting the boys with a breeze, it seemed like we had always been a family. On October 16, 2024, in front of all of her friends, I got down on one knee and proposed. After he proposed, and I saw that they were green emeralds in my engagement ring further solidified what I need to be true. I told him and all my friends that the word that I had confessed to God was evergreen and that early on in our relationship, not only how he said it, but he confirmed it by describing the tree exactly as I pictured it. Our relationship is everything that I’ve imagined and prayed for. Built on trust and love and mutual respect. A heavy focus on family and acceptance. Like Evergreen, our love is consistent and everlasting. We are Hall things Evergreen.