We're getting married!

Keri was working in the Physical Science Center as a tutor. Ahmed came in for tutoring from a different tutor. Keri overheard him say he wasn't going to study over the break. Keri chastised him for being a bad student! They got into a conversation about how much Ahmed missed Morocco and his family. After that, Keri checked in on him occasionally, to see how he was doing. He says her big heart made him fall for her! He had his tutor friend set up a meeting on Thanksgiving for everyone to be in the same place and after that, the love story began!

Ahmed took Keri to eat at The Himalayas Aroma of India. He was wearing a cute purple button-down shirt. Keri complimented him on it and he said it was a special occasion. Keri asked what special occasion and he said, "going out with you, of course!" Keri made dating kind of difficult because she was so focused on school work. During the semesters, their dates were just them sitting next to each other while studying. Somehow, though, love bloomed! They enjoyed spending lots of time together, in between semesters, going to museums, restaurants, hiking, and the movie theater.

Ahmed introduced Keri to his family in Morocco in early 2017. They would chat with his sisters, mother, and father through video chat and over the phone. Keri introduced Ahmed to her family at Thanksgiving at Lauren's house. They celebrated their first anniversary and Ahmed's first American Thanksgiving with Keri's dad (Mike), his wife (Susan), Susan's daughters (Lauren & Amy), and Lauren's family. After leaving Lauren's house, Keri and Ahmed went to Keri's mother's (Stephanie's) house where he met her mom. All of the meetings were a hit and both families embraced the relationship.

Keri and Ahmed took their first vacation together during the winter break of 2018. They traveled to Dallas, TX, with a few stops on the way. They first had lunch at The Red Cup in Oklahoma City. They then stopped along the Oklahoma/Texas border to hike at Turner Falls. They visited the Collings Castle and Robbers Cave during their hike. The scenery was quite breathtaking! They got to Dallas in the evening and explored the city the next day. They went to the Dallas Art Museum, which was full of incredible original pieces! They tried a couple of the local restaurants and visited the very fancy North Park Mall, which was still heavily decorated for the holidays. They were quite impressed by their short visit to Dallas and would like to return. Keri was sick for the whole visit, so they didn't get to explore as much as they wanted. Despite the illness, the couple had an amazing time together!

During school breaks, Keri and Ahmed like to spend extra time together and explore through hiking. So during Spring Break, when Ahmed suggested a hike up Mount Scott, Keri didn't suspect anything out of the ordinary! It was the first day of spring. It was sunny with a cool breeze. Keri and Ahmed got to the base of Mount Scott in the afternoon and took a couple of hours to get to the top. As they ascended the mountain, they were able to enjoy the sun from all different points as it slowly traveled across the sky. They took in beautiful views of water, rocks, and the etched landscapes surrounding them. By the time they made it to the top, it was sunset. The rocks below them were glistening and the sun kissed their faces with a soft golden glow. Ahmed complimented Keri on how beautiful she looked in the delicate sunlight. He took her hands, told her he loved her, their babies, and their life together, and he wanted to spend his life with her. He asked her to marry him and she said yes! He gave her a white gold ring with an aquamarine stone, saying he liked it because it matched her eyes. She loved it! As they walked down the mountain, hand in hand, their view of the sun was replaced by a big, bright, and full moon reflecting off of the water. They both agreed the day was perfect, beautiful, romantic, and magical!

Keri and Ahmed wanted to tell their loved ones their exciting news in person and all at once. They arranged a wine tasting party to serve as their surprise engagement party. They gathered their friends and Keri's family to announce their engagement. Everyone was very excited and some of the parents said they suspected the party was to announce something big. Everyone had a great time and Keri and Ahmed were relieved to finally speak openly about their plans. Also, this party allowed the flower girl (Abbie) and the ring bearer (Mushu), both dogs, to meet. They both got along great!

Keri and Ahmed are parents to five cats, a boa constrictor, and a canary. Keri already had the cats and snake when she met Ahmed and Ahmed adopted a two month old canary in November of 2018. The cats are Ivan, Tiger, Zoey, Max, and Porter. The snake is named Harvey and the bird is named Zitoune. For Keri, it was very important that her partner and her babies all get along and love each other. Ahmed loves the kitties and they love him! He brushes them, spoils them with wet food and treats, and carries them throughout the house. He has a cautious relationship with Harvey. He has not held him, but he has pet him. Zitoune, named after his olive coloring, has a close relationship with both of his parents. They also spend time with their feline nephew, Cupcake. Keri and Ahmed have a full house and they love all of the love they receive, everyday!

Keri and Ahmed are both STEM students. Ahmed is getting his Associates in Engineering from OCCC and Keri is getting hers in Chemistry and Biology. After OCCC, they plan to go to Oklahoma University in Norman. Ahmed will pursue a Bachelors degree in Civil Engineering and Keri will pursue hers in Chemical Engineering. Keri plans to continue school until she has at least her Masters degree and perhaps her doctorate. When they are finally done with school, they have made it a goal to travel the world and visit a new place every year. They will also visit Ahmed's family in Morocco as often as they can! They would like to buy a house of their own and move out of Oklahoma someday.