Our Story

Lydia's Version

Okay, so here’s the thing: Shaun and I have technically known each other forever. We grew up in the same church, but somehow, we were always in our own little worlds. I was busy with my group of friends, and Shaun was… well, around, but not really on my radar. Except for this one summer in 2019, when I kinda had a crush on him. I even told my friend Jennise, who, of course, teased me about it for years. Still, nothing happened, and life went on.

But as I got closer to his sister Sherlin, our families started hanging out more—backyard barbecues, trips, the usual stuff. Looking back, I guess our lives were already starting to overlap, but we didn’t really see it yet.

Then, in July 2021, we went on this trip to Puerto Rico, which was supposed to be just a fun vacation. But that trip? It turned out to be so much more. Between the sun, the ocean, and all the time we spent together, Shaun and I really got to know each other in a way we never had before. We talked, laughed, and bonded over the little things, and by the end of the trip, we had built a really strong friendship. It wasn’t about romance back then—it was just about genuinely enjoying each other’s company and realizing how much we clicked. Looking back, that trip was the foundation for everything that came after.

Fast forward a little, and we both ended up working at DTE—me in marketing, him in engineering. It was like God wasn’t done throwing us together yet. We’d chat about work, reminisce about Puerto Rico, and slowly got closer. Then Shaun pulled this clever move: he changed his new hire paperwork appointment to match mine so we could spend the day together in Detroit. We ended up hanging out at Belle Isle, just talking and enjoying the day, totally unaware that this little moment would come full circle later.

But, of course, timing wasn’t on our side just yet. We had to walk through a difficult road to prove our love. As much as we cared about each other, we eventually decided it would be better if we were just friends. It wasn’t an easy choice, but sometimes, you just have to let go and trust God with it. “If you love something, let it go, and if it comes back, it’s yours forever,” right?

Then one day, Shaun casually hit me up with an “extra ticket” to a Michigan vs. Ohio State game (uh-huh, sure, extra). I said yes, obviously, and we had the best time. Michigan pulled off this epic win after eight years, and honestly, it kinda felt like love was winning too.

Things really took off after that. In March 2022, Shaun took me to dinner at Highlands in Detroit and officially asked me out. The skyline, the moment—it was perfect.

We made a promise to keep God at the center of our relationship, and from that point on, everything just clicked. We grew together, laughed a ton, and built something so much deeper than either of us expected.

Then came July 12, 2024. Shaun brought me back to Belle Isle—the exact spot where we’d spent that day years ago, completely clueless about what was ahead. With the Detroit skyline behind us, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. It was such a full-circle moment, and honestly, I couldn’t have written it better if I tried.

From childhood acquaintances to lifelong partners, our story hasn’t been what I expected—but it’s been better than anything I could’ve dreamed. Now, we get to do forever together, and I couldn’t be more excited.