We are making it official!

Many, Many, Many moons ago, T & T worked at Overhead Door Garage Company. Tonya started in 2000 working in accounts receivable and Travis started 2002 as a Garage Door Installer. While working together all these years it wasn’t until June 2010 there was an electrified attraction between the two. Their first interaction was due to Tonya giving Travis messages from bill collectors. After a few times, Tonya was like, that’s enough of that! LOL She decided to be nosey and ask Travis about how he was managing his bills. She showed sincere concern and offered to help him sort things out. Tonya often shares how she messed her credit up and had to clean it up. After knowing better, her Motto became: ”Each One, Reach One.Each One Teach One. Until All Are Taught.” However, one day Travis came into the office from vacation all cleaned up and spicey looking. (He was usually dirty from the type work he did.) Tonya thought he looked yummy lol, so she started flirting😂. They exchanged numbers. After being single for so long, Tonya gave Travis the name “McDreamy”. She anticipated that it would be just a fling. However, just a fling, was far from reality. 😍

The first time we met outside of work, we went to San Jose on Hard Scrabble Rd, Columbia, SC for dinner. We invited another co-worker along as we were both nervous or shall I say, pretending to be shy. Thereafter, we hung out on many occasions with other friends and family members sipping, playing cards, laughing, cooking, and listening to music. Simply enjoying each other’s company. Our time together was starting to become a habit.

We went to Vegas July, 2021 to celebrate my sister’s birthday. I am always the one to plan outings unless I put my Honey Bunny on notice. I told him prior to leaving, “I know we are going as a group, but we should plan to do something together one day out of the 5 days we will be gone.” He said, “I got that handled. You just had to say something all I need you to do is take an extra dress up outfit.” Lol Ok, that can mean a lot of different looks. 🙄 I threw a few extra dresses in the suitcase, assuming we were just going to dinner. He loves to feed me. Can’t y’all tell? 🤣🤣 Our second day in Vegas, July 29, 2021 to be exact, he took me to this really nice restaurant called “Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas”. We had a window seat facing the Bellagio Fountains. So romantic. There was a champagne toast upon arrival and wine throughout dinner. I was thinking wow! This is fancy. He out did himself. LOL We had a four course meal and ended it with Souffle’ for dessert. I had pistachio and he had chocolate. Then he grabbed my hand toss my phone on the table. He was so nervous…….he had me nervous too…😬. He could not wait for dinner to be over. He asked me if I loved him, I said, “Yes.” He said, “No, really love me?” Reassured his love and dropped to one knee………. I said yes!

Here we are 12 years later. There is a lot to share over a period of 12 years just know that we had our ups and downs like any other couple. Over the years, I have watched Travis grown in all aspects of his life and our life together. He puts forth the effort every day to be a better man than the day before. I can count on him to be just what I need him to be: a confidant, a provider, treats me with the upmost respect, puts me first, and the list goes on. He will even help me fold clothes. LOL To God be the Glory. That is the man I am proud to say, “I will be marrying.” I love you Honey Bunny!

Tonya is all that and then some to me. She helped me with my personal growth in all aspects of my life. I could never imagine life without her. Because of her, I can honestly say I view life from a different perspective and I am a much better man than I was 12 years ago. As My Love would say, “personal growth is a continuous process” and she is right. She is God sent. The best thing that ever happened to me!! She keeps me balanced and on my toes at the same time. I love you Tonya, and looking forward to spending the rest of my life with you❤️

We have six kids together: Jamauri, 15, Daja, 16, Destiny 17, Jamesyn 17, Arianna 22, and Shatequa 29. Shatequa has blessed us with a son, Jamal, who will be turning 30 on our wedding day. When you see him, tell him Happy Birthday! The two of them has also blessed us with two grandsons: Grayson and Brogan. We are looking forward to a lifetime of memories. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8NIV 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. . November 4 will be Epic! We can’t wait to celebrate with our family and friends.