It was by chance that Rick and I paths crossed. I worked at the daycare where his nephews attended. I would always watch his demeanor as he would come get the kids and leave just as quietly as he came. I would always ask his sister (Trina) was he single and she would always reply yes. My response would always be tell him I said what's up jokingly. Not knowing that she would tell him for real one day, when she told him I was too scared to talk to him and I was extremely shamed faced when he called me omg. (Can you believe that I, Kari Stephens, scared and shamed faced to talk to anybody?) That's how Rick and Kari formally met in an informal setting.

Kari came in my sister's house, her and her daughter Kataleya (Skye), Skye had to be the sweetest little girl I'd ever seen. I was in the kitchen making God knows what. Kari was shy at first but I could tell that she was happy being in my presence. We talked the whole night about a lot of things, but mostly food (WE LOVE FOOD!). Kari made me feel protected and not like I had to protect her all the time. Kari was outspoken and genuine about who she was. I was very vague with her the our first couple of encounters. Let's just say the other women my sister tried to hook me up with didn't go so well. We met at Cheddar's for dinner and being outspoken as she is, she asked why do we always have to meet at my sister's house when we both have our own space.I then informed her that I was celibate and much to my surprise so was she. I knew then that this was going to be much more than casual dating.

Riding in the car one morning Rick began to ramble like he normally does, so I paid him little to no mind as he does this quite often. But then he said you deserve to be a wife. So I'm like ok what is he trying to say or ask. His next words were do I deserve you. He asked me my ring size and I stated that I didn't know so we went to Kay's and got sized. My next thought was I don't wear rings, so I asked for an Iphone instead, lol he told me no and bought me a ring.

We were riding in the car having one of our conversation about celibacy among other things. In which she stated her feelings about marriage, I also expressed my feelings about marriage and told her she deserved to be someone's wife. She looked at me like are you asking me or telling me. I asked her would she be my wife. She said yes!! We went to Kay's and got her finger sized for ring. She said that she wasn't the jewelry type so she asked for an iPhone 11. I bought her a ring.