Saphira’s side: For a long time, I’ve been praying for my husband. But it was during a time in which I was really praying and who knew that I would soon meet my husband, Duke. My mom, retired Air Force, was on short assignment at Eglin Air Force Base in Fort Walton as an engineer.   It was spring break that I was visiting my mom in Fort Walton. March 10th, 2025, I checked into the Marriott with my mom, not knowing that night would change the course of my life.   That same evening, I met Duke Omar Bent at the hotel. What began as a simple hello turned into hours of deep smooth conversation! I had never experienced a connection like that before - so natural, so organic, so instant.   To backtrack, Saturday night, March 1st, I was crying to Lord, wondering where my husband was. The next day on Sunday, one of my friend and I went to church and the message was on marriage! The church ended up passing out this 12 days of singleness workbook. It was interesting that we were working on this book and literally 12 days later is when I had my first date with Duke.   For a couple days, I would go down to the lobby, finding every excuse to talk to this guy. We ended up finally chatting and began to connect. We got along so well and almost knew automatically that we were for each other.    I remember the day that Duke asked me on our first date. He took me to this beautiful restaurant looking over the ocean in Destin, Florida. He had a plan to take his blanket out for us to sit on the beach after dinner. We talked and talked for hours all evening on the stand hearing the crashing of the waves. It was this moment that we fell in love.   We went on many dates - beautiful magical dates. He courted me the right way. I told him that I am not a girlfriend and that I wanted to only be a wife - that I was serious. I’m 37 years old and I want to be a mother. I am getting older.   I love that that Duke is a spiritual man of faith with a strong Christian background. Duke is a praying man! - A very standup guy, who is very mature and a very hard worker. He cares for me and makes me laugh like no other person!   We are exact opposites, yet we are so compatible. For example, Duke is very conservative and straight edge - safe guy, which is amazing and I’m a little bit more liberal and daring. We both love the beach, but he needs to be under his umbrella and I wanna lay directly under the sun.   Duke was serious towards me and we both knew God had orchestrated our meeting. We were destined to meet each other in Destin!   I told all my friends and family about this man I met - truly the man of my dreams that I prayed for.    I knew that Duke was the one when he had asked me in the beginning if I was willing to wait for marriage! I never met a man like that! I asked him where have you been my whole life?   Duke said that he was expecting me! He said he was praying for me. He was praying for a wife. He did not want to be alone.    My parents and my friends all love Duke. My mother in particular knew he was for me the first day she met him and knew that’s why God assigned her to Eglin Air Force Base - just for me to meet Duke! Oddly, her Eglin assignment was over shortly after - and she knew why!   For years, I tried dating apps; it never worked. I felt the Holy Spirit say get off the apps months before I met Duke. My step-mom, my mom and other people also hinted to me to let go of my pickiness.   I told Duke that if I had seen him on a dating app, I would have swiped left because of various personal picky reasons.   But God had other plans…   Duke and I were made for each other and we knew what we wanted in a partner and we both believed in marriage and not shacking up. We privately exchanged vows, so we can continue our lives together under God. Our beautiful wedding is planned for 2026! We can not wait to share our love with the world.  And now introducing baby Bent 2026!  Please visit our wedding website  thebents2026.com    Duke’s side: to come           

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