It was September 10, 2011, and like many of life's best moments, it started with a bit of happenstance. I wasn’t planning to be at that Shanice’s birthday party all night long; Rose and I were just gonna pop in and out. But when you’re curious about who’s there and what’s going on (nosey) sometimes fate just nudges you in the right direction. I was there to celebrate not expecting to meet anyone new, I was enjoying the music and snacks, you know hanging out. I remember walking around and scanning the crowd when my eyes landed on him. Now, let’s be honest—I’m a sucker for a cute face, and let’s just say, this guy checked that box. He wasn't even trying to impress me—he just had this chill, “I’m here to have a good time” vibe. And naturally, we struck up a conversation. *One* conversation turned into a night-long exchange of stories, jokes, all on the front steps, easily we lost track of time considering we talked until the early morning. I won’t say I wasn’t curious about him; I was. I mean, how often do you meet someone who leads with, "I'm a model" instead of, “I’m a Marine"? (I was *definitely* intrigued, especially when the guy who claimed to be a model seemed way too grounded for the role. But hey, what’s a girl to do but keep talking to a guy who *might* be a little too cool for his own good? A couple of days later, the texting started. It wasn’t long before we were hanging out again—just the two of us, no big deal—but each time felt a little more special. Over the weeks that followed, I’d say I got a pretty solid idea of who he was: someone funny, genuine, and clearly not your average guy. (I’m still laughing about the whole “model” thing, but hey, who’s counting?) Fast forward 14 years, and here we are. We’ve turned those spontaneous, text-filled days into a family built on love, laughter, and, of course, lots of plans. Buying a home together, and somehow, along the way, two beautiful little girls, Cadence (10) and Aminah (7), joined our family, making things even more chaotic, hilarious, and heartwarming. Oh, and don’t forget the original princess, Zahara, who’s been with us from the start. We might be adding more chapters to this story, but this feels like one of the best ones yet. So here we are, a lifetime ahead of us to keep making memories, keep laughing, and, yes, keep planning for the next big thing. Because we both know that together, there’s no adventure we can’t handle. As we look toward our future, we can’t wait to share all of it with you. Here’s to many more anniversaries, love-filled moments, and the kind of magic that only shows up when you least expect it—like at a birthday party, 14 years ago. And by the way, I’m *still* laughing about the whole “model” thing.