My Surprise Proposal Story The surprise proposal from CJ that took place on January 11, 2025. It was such a beautiful moment that I want to cherish forever, and I hope you’ll feel the love and joy that filled the air that day. Life’s Challenges: Before I dive into the proposal, I need to give you some context about my life over the past few months. October 2024 was one of the hardest months I’ve ever experienced. My dad, someone I hold near and dear to my heart, was given some health news that no one ever wants to hear regarding someone they love, and it shattered me. Then just a few weeks later, my oldest sister passed away unexpectedly. It felt like my world was turned upside down, and everything I knew was different. During this tumultuous time, I made a commitment trust God in all of this, and to take care of my dad to the best of my ability. That meant to constantly seek God's presence, focusing on healing, and ensuring he is at his absolute best, that his needs are always met, and cherishing every moment with him and my family. This was so hard, because I know I could not fill the voids of all of the missing pieces. I was in survival mode, just trying to keep everything together. I literally had no other direction but to surrender to God in the name of Jesus! The Surprise Plan: Now, fast forward to January. I was in a place where I didn’t want to do much—getting my hair done, my nails, or even dressing up felt like a chore. But CJ, my amazing partner and best friend, knew me well. He understood that the only way I’d be willing to step out of the house was if it was for something related to my dad. So, he came up with a very strategic chess move. He created a fake invitation regarding my dad and the family to attend a formal nonprofit dinner—a formal black-and-gold event. My mom forward me the invitation and told me to let the family know about the event and they would love for his family to attend to be in support. I had no idea that this was actually a setup for the most incredible surprise of my life. Checkmate! Even on the day of the surprise, I was so reluctant. My mom and niece had to practically drag me to get my nails done, and my sister purchased my gown, or else I would have worn pants and boots. After noticing the force my my mom put into making sure I really got myself together, it did bring a little suspense, because honestly, my mom never cared whether I had my nails done or not. But on this day, she said " You are the Star. Now get yourself together, NOW!" I got really confused, so I checked the website on the invitation and it showed up voided. I attempted to call the number as well, and it stated I had reached a number that has been disconnected. I just figured I was dialing the number wrong, but I didn't want to think too deep into it. I arrived at the venue, still believing I was attending an ALS charity dinner. Little did I know, it was all a beautiful ruse. The Proposal: As I walked into the venue with my dad on my arm, I was greeted by friends and family, and then I heard CJ’s voice, singing, and I knew right then exactly what was going. My heart was racing—something felt different, but I couldn’t put my finger on it. I just know I had to keep my composure and take in everything that was going on. He asked me to marry him, and at that moment, I felt a rush of joy amidst all the heartbreak I had been experiencing. CJ has been my rock through everything. He stuck by me, never making me feel less than, even when I was lost in my own struggles. The Emotional Aftermath: I was completely surprised, honored, and overwhelmed with gratitude. In a year filled with so much sorrow, this moment brought me pure joy. I’m so excited to marry my king, the person who has seen me at my worst and still chose to stand by me. Thank you all for letting me share this special moment with you. Life can be incredibly tough, but it’s moments like these that remind us of the love and joy that still exist.