Her Story

Lisa's Perspective

Back in 2007, this guy named DeJuan (who I now affectionately call "DJ") appeared in my Facebook inbox out of nowhere. He was charming, witty, and clearly trying his hardest to impress me. It was kind of adorable how hard he was trying, if I'm being honest.

We spent that summer hanging out, and I enjoyed his company, but then college called, and I headed back to campus. Life got busy, you know how it goes. For the next FOURTEEN years, DJ and I had this on-again, off-again friendship where we'd chat for a few days or weeks and then drift apart again. No hard feelings, just two people on different paths.

Fast forward to my birthday in 2021. My phone lit up with a message from DJ. Nothing unusual there—he'd occasionally pop up to say happy birthday. But this time, I decided to keep the conversation going. Why? I'm still not sure. Maybe I was curious to see where it might lead, or maybe I was finally ready to admit there had always been something special about him.

When DJ visited me in Atlanta a few weeks later, something clicked. It wasn't just the old friendship; there was a deeper connection that neither of us could deny anymore. Before I knew it, Kyler and I were packing up our life in Atlanta and moving to Albany to start a new chapter with DJ.

Then came the biggest surprise—I was pregnant! DJ embraced the news with such joy and stepped up in ways that confirmed I'd made the right choice in giving us a real chance.

On the day of my baby shower, DJ was acting strange—fidgety, distracted, and unusually quiet. I figured he was just nervous about becoming a dad. But as we were about to leave for the shower, he stopped me at the door, took a deep breath, and got down on one knee.

His hands were shaking as he told me he didn't want me to give birth to his child without showing his commitment to our relationship. The moment was so perfectly imperfect—especially when he tried to put the ring on my middle finger instead of my ring finger! I couldn't help but laugh as I corrected him, tears of joy streaming down my face.

We walked into that baby shower not just as expectant parents but as fiancés. Six days later, our beautiful son Dash was born, and our family was complete.

Sometimes the best love stories don't follow a straight line. Sometimes they take detours, pauses, and years of friendship before finding their way to the destination. And I wouldn't change a single moment of our journey.

His Story

DeJuan's Perspective

I'll never forget the day in 2007 when I decided to slide into Lisa's Facebook inbox. I thought I was being smooth, but looking back, I was far from it. I was young and had more confidence than experience!

That summer was cool. We hung out, laughed, and had fun. But then, as quick as it started, Lisa went back to college, and life pulled us in different directions.

For the next 14 years, we kept this on-and-off thing going. We'd talk for a few days, sometimes even weeks, and then... nothing. Radio silence. I'd see her updates on social media and think, "Maybe someday..." but never quite had the guts to make a real move.

Then came 2021. I don't know what came over me, but I decided to wish Lisa a happy birthday. Honestly, I expected the same old pattern—a brief chat and then back to our separate lives. But something was different this time. She responded... and kept responding. That's when I knew I was "in." Lisa was a free agent, and I wasn't going to waste this second (or hundredth) chance.

A few weeks later, I visited her in Atlanta and it felt like no time had passed. The connection was instant and real. By the following year, she and Kyler were moving to Albany to start our lives together. I was terrified and thrilled all at the same time.

Then came Dash. Man, when we found out Lisa was pregnant, I knew this was my forever family. I was the happiest man alive. The day of the baby shower, I was a too nervous, rehearsing what I'd say, fumbling with the ring in my pocket, taking way too many shots. Just before we left for the shower, I stopped her at the door. My heart was pounding so hard I knew she could hear it.

"Lisa," I said, trying to keep my voice steady, "I don't want you to give birth my child and be just my babymama." I got down on one knee (shakily, I might add) and presented the ring.

Man, I tried to put the ring on her middle finger instead of her ring finger! Lisa corrected me with a laugh. Fourteen years after that first Facebook message, she said yes, and we headed off to the baby shower to share our news with everyone. Six days later, our son Dash was born, completing our family in the most perfect way.

Some love stories take fourteen years to get to the good part. Ours was worth every minute of the wait.

Our Story

The Journey Together

What do you get when you combine a persistent guy, a patient woman, and fourteen years of "maybe someday"? You get us—Lisa and DJ—proof that timing really is everything.

Our story began in 2007 with a Facebook message that led to a summer of hanging out. Then came the long stretch—fourteen years of sporadic conversations, brief connections, and lives moving in parallel but separate directions.

Neither of us knew that a simple birthday message in 2021 would change everything. Something was different this time. The conversation didn't fade away after a few days. Instead, it grew deeper, more meaningful.

From Facebook friends to fiancés with two beautiful children, our journey has been anything but conventional. It took us fourteen years to get from that first message to "yes," proving that some love stories aren't about love at first sight—they're about recognizing your perfect match when the timing is finally right.

As we prepare to say "I do," we're grateful for every twist, turn, and detour in our story. Because without them, we wouldn't be where we are today: happy, in love, and excited for all the chapters yet to be written.