I moved to the DFW in July of 2012 and originally met Tobi at Nationstar. We worked in the same department but were on different teams so there wasn’t very much interaction besides leaving a note on an account and asking about that note via IM. I think we only had like one interaction that was not work related and that was via IM at work. I vaguely remember that conversation but I was in a relationship at the time so I’m sure flirting or being interested in anyone else was far from my mind. Fast forward to the beginning of 2020 I started noticing him commenting and liking my posts on Facebook. I didn't give it much attention at first and then February 23, 2020, my birthday, I decided to do something different and post my cash app tag. Tobi sent me $5 and I was pleasantly surprised because this was lowkey a stranger to me lol. My sister and I were going on a trip the next day to Colombia so that extra cash was much appreciated. Then the pandemic happened and of course since we were on lockdown, I was on Facebook more. May 2020 I posted a picture from the Colombia trip on my Facebook story. The caption on the picture was “I need a vacation mann”. I'm not sure if it's an Oklahoma thing or if it's a ME thing but I tend to say “mannn” a lot. I get a response in my messenger inbox from Oluwatobi Adeboyejo that said “vacation man? Or vacation…man? Lol” and of course I was confused but then clarified that I was talking about just another vacation in general lol. The next conversation we had was weeks later via Messenger and I was just thinking "man, this dude is really nice.. he doesn't make any inappropriate or annoying comments." Most of our conversations were about black owned food spots, wellness services and church. I was back in the salon so I wasn't on Facebook much and my responses were delayed so after about a month of back and forth convo Tobi FINALLY sent me his number lol. That is when the light bulb went off that this guy is not only friendly but he might actually be interested in me. Tobi had just recently graduated from a Masters program and was having a drive-by celebration but I knew I would not be able to make it because of another appointment. I decided to just send him a monetary gift via cash app (Tobi edit: it was $25 people. $20 more than what I sent her months prior lol). That summer I was tired of decisions I was making especially when it came to dating so I prayed and made notes in my journal to God that I wanted whatever it is that HE wanted for me and for me to stay obedient to whatever that might have been. Something I appreciated about this "talking stage" was that Tobi asked a lot of questions about me which made me feel that he was genuinely trying to get to know ME. July 22nd was a Wednesday and I just happened to be at the salon when I seen a Thank You card addressed from Tobi for the monetary gift I sent him for his graduation. This was the first gesture that blew me away because it was extremely thoughtful and special. That evening we had our first date at Piranha Ramen in Arlington. One thing that stood out from that night was after I casually mentioned that I should have gotten a bag for my to-go container, Tobi took my food back inside, had them wrap the bowl up and handed it to me in a bag (with plenty of napkins IYKYK). That is something that I will never forget and he's been consistent with doing thoughtful things like that ever since. That first date was followed by weekly dates, meeting friends, family, and football games, becoming "official", a snowstorm, my dad passing, us both getting covid at the same time, pre-marital counseling, baptism and June 3rd, 2022 when he proposed to me. So much has happened in just 2 years but one thing for sure is that God had His hand in it the entire time and we will continue to keep Him first.

2012: A few months after my graduation from UNT I started working at Nationstar Mortgage (now known as Mr. Cooper). Kiara and I worked in the same department but for different teams and had a few interactions here and there strictly related to work. We didn’t know anything about each other outside of work and at that time we were both in romantic relationships with other people. Kiara left Nationstar about a month after our initial work meeting. To be continued… Fast forward to… 2020: When the pandemic hit in March I remembered we were Facebook friends but did not recollect how that came to be so on occasion, I would look at the pictures on her page and occasionally LIKE but never COMMENT, but always say to myself “Man! She is beautiful, I don’t remember her being this FINE at Nationstar!!” On May 28, 2020 I hopped in her direct messages to comment on a vacation picture from her story. I didn’t think anything would come of it, in my mind it was a corny message lol but she laughed then we began to engage in many conversations ranging from cooking, life, social unrest, Kobe passing, traveling and our career goals. A few months after that first message I moved back to Dallas from coaching and teaching in Mexia, TX (Go Blackcats!) and obtaining my Masters degree. Sometime after I moved back to the DFW I asked her if she wanted to meet up for ramen (I purposely did not call it a date, more on that later lol). I remember seeing her the night of our first date (I know I said I didn’t call it that lol) and thought to myself “Wow! She is even FINER than the Facebook pics.. OMG, this is a LADY!!”. After that first date I knew she was someone with a special LIGHT to her. I remember praying about us and the Lord telling me “as long as you keep your relationship to honor me and me only.. It won’t fail.” That confirmed it for me. The rest as they say is History!