I remember Drew dancing at parties at the University of Maryland, College Park, but I never had a conversation with him. I spotted him a few times cuttin' up in the middle of a dance cypher, but that's as much of what I knew of Drew during my college years. I did know his older brother, Aaron, who was always kind. I have memories of Aaron waving, smiling and saying 'Hey Mo!' Through the mutual connection and the power of social media, Drew and I somehow, someway reconnected. Drew and I had followed each other on Instagram. In July 2018, I direct messaged (DM'd) Drew in response to a post of him posing alongside his brother, Aaron. (Lord only knew that the first record of words to my future husband was going to be: "Y'all look smack alike!!") After a one-line response, the conversation quickly ended and we were back to being plain old college peers. Nearly 6 months later, Drew found his way back into my inbox congratulating me on a post about a recent accomplishment. This time the conversation was a little bit longer. Drew mentioned how he was a student at Elon Law and I told him how I was very far away. At that time, I was working as a meteorologist in Wilmington, North Carolina which was about 3 hours away from where he was. Although we didn't get to meet up that time, our Instagram DMs became slightly more frequent. Nearly a week later, he was commenting on a post and giving me a compliment. We engaged in conversation on and off for about a year-- May, June, February, and what I thought was the last time, in June 2021, when he congratulated me on my new job in Greensboro, North Carolina. I thought our Instagram tales were over because his page disappeared! (Where did Drew go?) About a month later, July 29, 2021, everything changed. Drew Tawiah re-emerged with a new Instagram and was back...in my DMs! On this hot day, I was spending my afternoon frolicking around the streets of downtown Greensboro posting selfies. I was so excited about my new job. Drew commented on the post: "How are you liking Greensboro? I know downtown is small lol." I had completely forgotten he lived there! We were finally in the same area of North Carolina. Nearly a week later, we met for the very first time formally. On August 4, 2021, we went on our very first date to Crafted in downtown Greensboro. I had goosebumps with this odd combination of emotions from peace to curiosity---with a stranger! The date was going so well that we ventured from the dinner table to the park down the street. We talked, we laughed, we smiled, we stared... and as we sat on the park bench sharing stories about our life, I had this unique pit feeling with an eerie sense that something incredible was happening. For a moment, I zoned out thinking: "Is this my soulmate?" I didn't want the night to end. The dessert fiend that I am wanted something sweet and Drew was down for the adventure. So, we drove to Crumble for cookies, separately. The small storefront didn't have space to sit inside so we talked in my car for a couple of hours. Drew revealed his painful past life experiences and I listened so in awe of this man and thought: "Is this really as good as it seems? He's an extremely intelligent, fit, tall, vulnerable and good-looking chocolate man that believes in God! Just WOW!" We both left that parking lot and went our separate ways. I knew I wanted to know more about this strangely right guy and spend more time with him! He was great to talk to and seemed just as kind in person as he was on Instagram. The next day I woke up and I had a text message from Drew. He had sent me a list of black therapists in the local area because he had remembered from our conversation that, that was something I was in desperate search of since moving. "He really listened to me and remembered! Who does that?!" I was amazed.

When I met Monique I knew I had met a wife, but I had to become a husband. I was enamored by her discipline and her faith in the Lord was genuine. Not only did she praise Him, but she also walked it out in her daily life. The first date went great, but there was one big issue: I was going through a difficult transition. While Monique was getting adjusted to Greensboro, North Carolina, I was preparing to leave! My plan was to study for the bar exam and land a job in New York. This was in my last semester of law school. I knew Greensboro very well since I had been in town for a few years at that point, so I could show her around. Unfortunately, after only five months of dating, I had forecasted (no pun intended) that we would be long-distance. I also didn't feel like I was my best self at the time. I was regaining my confidence in myself as a man after going through some stressful challenges in law school that nearly crushed my spirit and created insecurities that I had never felt before.  After listening to wise counsel from my therapist and the Holy Spirit, I knew that this journey to become a husband would require physical restraint, discipline, and intercessory faith. It was not an easy decision, but we opted for abstinence to create a strong foundation that would prepare us for the challenges ahead. Our priority was God from the beginning: we watched sermons together, interpreted the Word, and prayed for each other. We also became workout partners in the gym, pushing each other to stay in shape and embrace our adult bodies. We were transparent from the beginning about everything we had been through from childhood to adulthood. We learned so much about ourselves and about each other. The vulnerability and the workouts allowed our love to grow rapidly.  In December 2021, after five months of dating, we faced one our first most challenging seasons: I left Greensboro to study intensely for the bar exam. For months, the physical distance between us grew but our strength in God, did also. God stretched us and we became better! We stayed in the gym and remained in the Word. Despite the distance, delayed gratification was our theme for 2022. In April, I found out that I passed the bar exam on the first attempt and then I moved to the New York City area with a job, just as planned. God blessed us. I then chose to take our relationship to the next level. I proposed to Monique on June 22, 2022 at the same park that we went to on our very first date! Immediately thereafter, we started and completed pre-marital counseling with Reverend Henderson of First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens. We attempted to continue to navigate the distance with me living in New Jersey and Monique in North Carolina, but we could sense the Holy Spirit calling for the distance to end. Within the span of less than a year, our distance had grown from less than a mile to 300 to 600! We wanted to grow more side by side. Greater was our calling and we needed to attain it together! In December 2022, Monique left Greensboro and we were reunited at last. Out of the respect for God and all things beautiful and blessed, we made our covenant legal on January 19, 2023, before her parents, her younger brother, my brother, my sister-in-love, niece and nephew! As we continue our love story, we look forward to celebrating it with you!