We met through a mutual friend and coworker Derek Prada, who introduced us after janell (yes she is the one that initiated everything) mentioned that as soon as she saw me, i was going to be her husband. Who knew that she was gonna be right? We went on our first date but didnt initially hit it off until about a year later during a time when janell lost her mother.

It all began about a year ago when I realized I wanted to propose after watching Janell with my mom. Planning wasn’t easy—she’s always around and very observant—so I secretly enlisted help from family, especially her niece Nieacha, who helped with details like her ring size. While we waited for the ring, I quietly prepared everyone and even discussed marriage around her without giving anything away. Originally, I planned to propose on her birthday, but the ring wasn’t ready until March—a sensitive time for her family due to her late mother’s birthday. I decided to honor that date by organizing what she thought was a memorial gathering, but it was actually a surprise proposal. With help from her brother Tez, my mom Diane, her niece Nieacha and others, we pulled everything together behind the scenes. On the day of, I distracted Janell with dinner at a restaurant she loved. Afterward, I brought her to the venue, covered her eyes, and led her inside to a room full of family and friends. Shocked, she slowly realized what was happening as she made her way to me and the “Marry Me” sign. In that moment, it all came together. Thank you for saying yes—and sorry for the deception.