THROUGH HIS EYES When I think about our love story, I have to go back to our first date. As Maria would say, “you’re always last minute.” What she did not know is that it was a part of the plan. I wanted a blank canvas with no expectations but treating a woman how she should be treated. Our first date consisted of flowers and my focus of being a gentleman. We did not have set plans for the first date and it started with a long conversation in the car. We figured out where to go for the first stop which was a vintage R&B record lounge. To me that place represented sustainability, a place to focus on conversation, authenticity, quality, and communication which is what I was looking for in a relationship. Fast forward one and a half year later, Maria will be my beautiful flower that will bloom for a lifetime. Those qualities from our first date at the vintage record lounge continue to be a part of the foundation for our relationship. THROUGH HER HEART I remember that I was at a point where I felt like giving up on dating. I had a first date scheduled with James a couple days after my birthday. I had a gut feeling telling me to make sure I go on that date. James arrived with flowers and a warm hug that I still remember to this day. I knew from that moment that something special was forming. We developed a bond that formed quickly and I remember us staring deeply into each other’s eyes that evening. When I got home from the date, James called and asked me , “when can I see you again?” From that day forward, I knew that God sent him my way for a reason, and now we are getting married. I was nervous about how the long distance part of our relationship would work since I met James a few months before I planned to move out of state for work, but he made it clear he was willing to do what it took to make things work and he continues to prove that every day. I am grateful for our relationship and look forward to the next chapter.