I distinctly remember meeting Andree at Desire and Samantha Steele’s home in Jamaica Plain when I was about 19 or 20 years old in the middle of the summer. The interaction was brief, and we saw each other now and then but we never exchanged more than a hello. Fast-forwarding to four years later we reconnected at a roller skating party that I went to with my older cousin Joshua. The dance floor was opened and and I remember Andree asking me if I wanted to dance. I agreed to dance with him and all he did was talk my head off and ask me questions about myself lol. I remember him being reserved so I was surprised at how much conversation we were having. We both realized we worked nights, so he asked for my number and mentioned maybe we could connect during the day at some point. Occasionally we would text each other, and if we had a party or something we would extend the invitation to one another and often. The turning point for me was when I was embarking on a new phase of adulthood and moving out of my family’s apartment, I told Andree I had signed my lease and I would be getting my key the next day. He told me not to tell anyone until the key was in my hand, because that was a guarantee Tatyana and I would officially be able to move in. He then volunteered to help me move to my new place. Before this he went to the new apartment and spoke to the landlord and made sure everything was legitimate and that all renovations were done before move in day. The next day he met me at my grandmothers house and took everything from her house that I had packed up and put it in the truck. A few hours later Andree and cousin Cameron came back over to help move everything into thew new place .This all meant so much to me because I realized he had my back, and more importantly his actions showed it, all this was a prelude to how kind, loving and protective he was. This was the start to a lasting friendship, which blossomed into a union I could have never expected.

It was definitely a humbling experience! Many people had to humble me with my extravagant different ways to propose to Sascha lol. From thinking about taking her to NY and proposing to her on a helicopter, to locally proposing to her in front of people to then bring her somewhere else to have a party! Thankfully with Jehovah’s help, and friends kicking my butt, I went with the option that worked for Sascha and I! And man I’m glad I proposed to her at my house with just a handful of people! Why? Because although I had a mini romantic paragraph that I THOUGHT I was going to say, I end up saying something as crazy as “Do you accept?” 🤦🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️. Yea that definitely wasn’t one my smoothest moments lol. Last minute fears, as well friends recording me, asking my best friend to marry me, and changing my life for the best...completely scared me as I got down on my knee. Although it wasn’t one my smoothest moments, it still turned out to be a unique experience, being that I didn’t even plan it that way lol. But I’d do it all again!