Unaware that we met socially, through Ne'va, followed up by a picture from Shavelle, we started to send messages to each other. However, within a few days from that moment, communication between us ceased from any social websites, for about 7 months.

On Friday, Teko'a invited me to a picnic in Buffalo, New York and I had no plans that weekend and I said yes! Not knowing what was going to happen, my plans were to visit New York and Niagara Falls, USA for the first time! Low and behold, while visiting at Julian and Shavalle house, there pops up Tobit! I started to smile not knowing what to expect. We hadn't spoke in 7 months. He came in smiling and spoke to everyone, even me. Later on that night I had a long, but sleepy conversation with Teko'a and from that point on, I wanted to know more. Tobit said, he was thinking, I hope I get to see her again and have a conversation! Saturday at the picnic he was on the grill cooking the entire time. I quickly made friends with Rashad and Tiffanie and while we were sitting down eating we had an enjoyable conversation about widening out and one day visiting North Carolina and Rashad immediately said, "What about Tobit?" In the meantime, Tobit was hoping for his grill relief to come, but for some reason that never happened! Later on Teko'a had a piece of chicken that Tobit was grilling and she told me to go and ask for one, so I did! First thoughts from Tobit, "I hope she likes it!" A little while later, he personally brought me my piece of chicken and it was delicious! We started to talk, and he poured me his famous jungle juice and knocked it over! Sunday, he came to the Kingdom Hall to hear Jathan give a talk, walked up to me and gave me a hug! I was smiling! Tobit told me I was looking good! Later on he came to Julian and Shavalle house and we played Tonk all night! I really can't remember who won the most games, but I think it was me! (wink) We were told later on, that it was the most intimate card game people have ever seen. Tobit asked for my number and we exchanged information. Initially we sent text messages, but that soon turned into 4 hour conversations and we have been on the phone with each other everyday since! We became each others person!

Tiff and I were talking on the phone and I felt like we were teenagers in school again. So while on the phone, I sent her a text that read: "Can You be my Girlfriend?" She heard my alert on her phone sound. She said: "why are you sending me a text message while we are on the phone?" Then when she saw the message she started smiling and answered "YES!!"

This is one date Tiff will never forget (not to mention she remembers scores of dates and times). I was dropping her off at the airport in Buffalo to go home. I gave her a very nice long hug and said "I love you." She started smiling and said "I love you too!"

So my plan was to surprise Tiffani. I made phone calls, to some off her close friends and family to help in this effort! I wanted to do something very special, yet simple. I decided, I wanted to remind Tiffani of one of our first dates together, have a professional photographer (Tiffani loves pictures) and dinner with her family. I needed to incorporate those ideas into one night, without her knowing anything. Fast forward to February 21st, I got on a plane, without Tiffani knowing, and was on my way to Chicago. I arranged for her friends to pick her up and to meet me at a special location. Before that, I had them take her to the restaurant Bar Louie (the place where Tiffani and I had our first drink in Chicago). My hope was to take her down memory lane! I arrived in Chicago, Jathan picked me up from the airport. We drove straight to Millennial Park, downtown Chicago. Tiffani and her friends are in route to the same location. When they arrive, they stop to let Tiffani out, at which point she was hesitant to get out the car (because she was so focused on the game on her phone), but they made her get out! Tiffani told me later on, her friend Teko’a told her to “follow her heart”. As she walked, toward the Millennium Monument in the park, I was standing, waiting to surprise her! In my hand I had a box of a dozen long stem roses. We hugged and after a special greeting, I told her I had a question for her! The question I had for Tiffani required me to get on one knee! I asked Tiffani, will you marry me and she said YES! Our photographer was able to capture, the entire moment! After taking plenty of pictures, we rode off to head to dinner. I told Tiffani we needed to stop by her house to pick up something I had at the house for her. Tiffani didn’t know that her family as well as my family were waiting to surprise her! Dorothy Jean (Tiffani’s Mom) and Jackie Price (Tiffani’s Aunt) prepared a most wonderful meal. From there we enjoyed the rest of the special evening!