We’re getting married!

I met Tina through her sister, Sheila. I met Sheila through my sister, Joy. When we got to college, Sheila and I became close, we were like family. We used to hang out every weekend, I would occasionally see Tina. When Noble died in 2012, Tina was one of the people who would try to encourage me. She would ask me to work out together or go hiking on the trail, just to talk. That’s how we became close, over the years, she became one of my really close friends. I never knew I liked her until we went to a UIU conference in 2018, it seemed like every guy there was trying to talk to her and I was standing right there; I felt tried lol. This is when I realized I liked her. I decided that I was going to shoot my shot. When I expressed to her how I felt, she responded “Oh, you’re a great guy but I don’t see you in that way and we are not equally yoked”. Around the same time, my Aunty Kate was visiting from Nigeria, asking me questions like “Are you going to heaven? Have you been baptized? Do you have a church home or read your Bible?” She encouraged me to study the Bible on my own. I shared this with Tina, who reconnected me with Ricardo, a now friend, who when I first met him at a Ravens Super Bowl game, I had never met some so vulnerable. This eventually lead to us studying the Bible together. I was baptized. Tina and I remained friends. As time went on, our feelings mutually grew. We eventually started dating September, 2020.

After we started dating we grew through some things individually and collectively, which ultimately made us stronger. Through prayer, our growing love, wise counsel, our experiences and journey together, God made it evident that Erick was the one for me! I see so many answered prayers in Erick. When I knew, I knew and I was ready lol. *In my head* I was convinced that I would know when the engagement was. Boy, was I wrong! He picked me up on a Tuesday evening for our date. Strategically, we had been having Tuesday date nights all month as apart of his engagement plan, so going out this Tuesday night felt apart of our norm. We were headed to meet up with some friends for our double date to hear live jazz music, but we stopped for dinner first. When we arrive at the restaurant, I was so surprised!! I was greeted by a “Will You Marry Me” sign and the best love song! There was a lovely set up, with balloons, rose rose pedals and a room filled with family, friends and some much love. Erick asked me to be his wife, 2/22/2022! It was perfect.