Get Me to the Church on Time

Today my sister-in-law is getting married to the man that God ordained for her and I couldn’t be happier for them. Marriage, to the right person at the right time, is a gift that keeps on giving. When two people are able to complete and increase one another without restriction or limitation, it is something to be honored and cherished. I have been happily married to my hubby for 7 ½ years now. I am grateful to have him in my life and I wouldn’t change our lives for the world!

How We Met

I remember seeing my husband in my African-Americans and the Law class at the University of Illinois at Chicago. It was one of my favorite classes that Junior year. Dr. Kevin Lyles encouraged us to think and to articulate our thoughts on various court cases. We had to read briefs and report them out in class. He told us that if we completed our homework and participated regularly, it was an easy A. I said, bet.

After our first day, I recall coming home and telling my roommate about this cute guy in my class. She encouraged me to talk to him, but of course, I wouldn’t. I was shy. And men were weird. And honestly, I thought they were kinda gross (yea, so mature right?). I read briefs, I navigated the materials, I participated my behind off and I made my A. The semester ended, we parted ways, summer break came, life went on.

The following semester I attended an event with a good friend. After the event, he said he wanted to introduce me to his friend. It was him; the cutie from Law class! He said hi, told me his name was Vernon, shook my hand (very) firmly and said he was glad to meet me. After he and our mutual friend chatted a little longer, it was time to say our goodbyes. As we made eye-contact, he gave me a very suave smile and I swear he winked. I was tickled!

Later that evening the mutual friend called me. He wanted to give me Vernon’s number because he had been asked to pass it along to me. I jotted it down on a loose slip of paper, set it on my desk and rolled my eyes. Our mutual friend was a great guy, but I suspected he was meddling, trying to get me to call a guy who really wasn’t interested, simply because he wanted to see if he could be a little matchmaker. So, of course, I tossed the number aside and went on about my business.

The Chance Encounter

A week passed and I hadn’t seen or thought about the cutie with the bright eyes. As I was hurrying my way across campus, a figure stepped into my path and stopped me. It was him! He reintroduced himself and asked why I hadn’t called him. I stammered some lame excuses, trying to cover up my embarrassment. He just smiled and asked if I still had his number. I did. In response he said, call me then, okay? Blushing, I told him I would and as we parted ways he once again gave me that little smile and wink and walked away. Swoon!

I called that night. I called that night and invited him to go to a book reading and signing. Bold, right? I don’t know what possessed me. Unfortunately, he couldn’t make it but we made plans for the following week. We would go for coffee on Black Wednesday at a café right around the corner from my house. I couldn’t believe it. A date with a new college boy…a cute one at that!

On the day of our date, I waited and waited by the phone. While we had made plans for the day and activity, we hadn’t set the precise time. Two o’clock became five o’clock, then five o’clock became seven and I decided I had been stood up. I told my roommate that I hated men. I called my mom in tears. Into the closet went all my clothes, my freshly washed hair was yanked into a high bun, on my pj’s were thrown, and I proceeded to plan a pity party for myself. Then, the phone rang. It was him! He was calling to say he was on his way and would be to my apartment in an hour. Excited yet skeptical that it would clearly be after 9pm when our date would begin, I pulled my clothes back out, put on a fresh face and awaited his arrival.

All I Ever Dreamed Of

Perhaps needless to say, the date went well. Very well! We continued to date consistently for the next five years. Five. Years. We survived a two-year long, long distance relationship while I attended graduate school in Los Angeles and he remained behind in Chicago completing his PhD program. Just days before my graduation, unbeknownst to me, he flew out to LA and surprised me in my classroom during the student’s lunch hour when on bended knee he proposed. I laughed, I cried and I kept the hand scrawled ‘Will You Marry Me?’ on my whiteboard until the end of the school year.

Six months later, with our toes buried in the sand, we were married on a beautiful stretch of beach in Mazatlán, México. It was New Year’s Eve. Just two-weeks shy of our first anniversary, we were blessed with our first child Vizuri. Since then we have had two more little additions, Emery and Mkazo. We’ve weathered the loss of both my grandmother and mother and have made a major move abroad. We have put God and our faith at the forefront of our relationship and I know that I am the person I am today because of my husband, my rock, my best-friend. We have grown together and I pray we are able to continue to grow closer and better alongside one another.

On This Remarkable Day

To my beautiful sister-in-law and her husband to be, I wish you both the world. I wish you every happiness there is in life. I pray you grow together, better one another, and complete one another. A long-term relationship with a committed and loving partner is such an amazing blessing and I am so grateful that you will be able to experience it together. I pray you have laughter, light, and abundance in every aspect of your relationship.

Remember to tell one another ‘I love you’ often. Help each other without hesitation. Communicate with one another regularly and build your life together in a way that makes you both happy. You are both wonderful and deserving individuals and I am confident that with God’s help you will find much joy together for many years to come. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your special day. From our family to your new family, we love you!

Are you married? In a committed long-term relationship? I’d love to hear the story of how you met. Please share in the comments!