I’ve known Isaac for as long as I can remember. We grew up together in the same church community, and from an early age, I always felt a special connection to him. Back then, he was the boy who felt more like a brother, someone familiar, steady, and kind. I never imagined that one day he would become the love of my life. Funny enough, Isaac was actually my fifth-grade crush. I remember him sending me sweet little messages on Facebook, complimenting my "smoky and enticing" eyes. Even then, there was a tenderness to the way he saw me. At the time, we were just kids, and life was still waiting to unfold. As we grew older, life naturally took us on different paths. We lost touch for a few years during college, but Isaac always stayed tucked away in the back of my mind. After he graduated, I reached out with a simple congratulatory message, not realizing that small moment would spark something so much bigger. What started as a renewed friendship slowly deepened into something I had never quite seen coming. It was a love that felt familiar, but also entirely new. In 2022, we officially started dating, and from the very beginning, it felt right. It felt easy, natural, and grounded, as if the pieces of our story had finally come together in the way they were always meant to. On March 2, 2024, Isaac proposed, and now, after all these years, we are stepping into a future full of laughter, shared dreams, and a bond that has been growing quietly all along. I cannot wait to celebrate this next chapter of our journey with all the people who have been part of our story.

Long before Eleasa and I became a couple, our lives were already intertwined. We were both born into families that lead churches in the Chicagoland area, so from an early age, we shared community, friendships, and networks—and our paths crossed often. Some of our earliest memories together go all the way back to Sunday school and playing on the church playground. Even then, I remember feeling a special affection for her. As we moved into our teenage and adolescent years, we kept in touch, though not as frequently but Eleasa was always someone dear to my heart. After a season in Indiana to complete my degree and a brief stint in Indianapolis, I returned home to Chicago. During that time, I earnestly prayed that the Lord would lead me to my wife. I could feel purpose unfolding in my life, and I knew I needed the right woman by my side to walk that journey with me. Shortly after returning, Eleasa and I reconnected through ministry. The moment I saw her again after all those years, something in my spirit just clicked. I felt an immediate and undeniable pull toward her. Our chemistry was instant, in 2022, we began our courtship. Just over two years later, on March 2, 2024, I proposed to the love of my life. Now, as we look forward to August 30th, I’m beyond blessed to say that I’ll be spending forever with my better half—my answered prayer.