Knights of Columbus

Bridal Shower

Ebenezer Community Church

Wedding Ceremony 

Brooklyn Park Activity Center

Reception

Ceremony

Centennial Park

Wedding BBQ

Summer

Our Wedding

Susan I&nbsp;met&nbsp;my&nbsp;husband&nbsp;in&nbsp;2009&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;Crystal&nbsp;Care&nbsp;Center.&nbsp;To&nbsp;me,&nbsp;it&nbsp;felt&nbsp;like&nbsp;just&nbsp;another&nbsp;workday—until&nbsp;I&nbsp;walked&nbsp;in&nbsp;to&nbsp;clock&nbsp;in&nbsp;for&nbsp;my&nbsp;shift&nbsp;and&nbsp;saw&nbsp;him.&nbsp;There&nbsp;was&nbsp;something&nbsp;about&nbsp;him—an&nbsp;energy,&nbsp;a&nbsp;presence—that&nbsp;immediately&nbsp;drew&nbsp;me&nbsp;in.&nbsp;I&nbsp;couldn’t&nbsp;take&nbsp;my&nbsp;eyes&nbsp;off&nbsp;him.&nbsp;Who&nbsp;is&nbsp;this&nbsp;guy?&nbsp;I&nbsp;wondered,&nbsp;my&nbsp;curiosity&nbsp;piqued. Excited,&nbsp;I&nbsp;rushed&nbsp;to&nbsp;the&nbsp;break&nbsp;room&nbsp;and&nbsp;confided&nbsp;in&nbsp;my&nbsp;work&nbsp;play-mom&nbsp;about&nbsp;the&nbsp;mysterious&nbsp;newcomer.&nbsp;She&nbsp;laughed&nbsp;and&nbsp;said,&nbsp;“Susan,&nbsp;a&nbsp;lot&nbsp;of&nbsp;guys&nbsp;at&nbsp;this&nbsp;job&nbsp;like&nbsp;you.”&nbsp;But&nbsp;I&nbsp;shook&nbsp;my&nbsp;head&nbsp;and&nbsp;quickly&nbsp;responded,&nbsp;“I&nbsp;don’t&nbsp;like&nbsp;them.&nbsp;I&nbsp;like&nbsp;him.”&nbsp;Little&nbsp;did&nbsp;I&nbsp;know,&nbsp;this&nbsp;was&nbsp;the&nbsp;beginning&nbsp;of&nbsp;something&nbsp;extraordinary. Yaya The&nbsp;funny&nbsp;thing&nbsp;is,&nbsp;I&nbsp;had&nbsp;no&nbsp;idea&nbsp;she&nbsp;noticed&nbsp;me&nbsp;first.&nbsp;That&nbsp;day,&nbsp;I&nbsp;was&nbsp;just&nbsp;trying&nbsp;to&nbsp;clock&nbsp;out&nbsp;and&nbsp;rush&nbsp;home&nbsp;when&nbsp;I&nbsp;saw&nbsp;a&nbsp;beautiful&nbsp;woman&nbsp;standing&nbsp;in&nbsp;the&nbsp;corridor.&nbsp;I&nbsp;glanced&nbsp;at&nbsp;her&nbsp;briefly&nbsp;and&nbsp;kept&nbsp;walking,&nbsp;not&nbsp;realizing&nbsp;our&nbsp;paths&nbsp;were&nbsp;about&nbsp;to&nbsp;intertwine. The&nbsp;very&nbsp;next&nbsp;day,&nbsp;I&nbsp;reported&nbsp;to&nbsp;work,&nbsp;and&nbsp;there&nbsp;she&nbsp;was—standing&nbsp;by&nbsp;the&nbsp;nurse’s&nbsp;station.&nbsp;This&nbsp;time,&nbsp;I&nbsp;took&nbsp;my&nbsp;chance.&nbsp;Slowly,&nbsp;I&nbsp;approached&nbsp;and&nbsp;greeted&nbsp;her.&nbsp;She&nbsp;responded&nbsp;with&nbsp;such&nbsp;warmth&nbsp;that&nbsp;it&nbsp;instantly&nbsp;put&nbsp;me&nbsp;at&nbsp;ease.&nbsp;I&nbsp;introduced&nbsp;myself&nbsp;and&nbsp;mentioned&nbsp;that&nbsp;I&nbsp;was&nbsp;still&nbsp;new&nbsp;on&nbsp;the&nbsp;job.&nbsp;She&nbsp;smiled&nbsp;and&nbsp;offered&nbsp;to&nbsp;work&nbsp;with&nbsp;me.&nbsp;That&nbsp;day,&nbsp;we&nbsp;functioned&nbsp;as&nbsp;a&nbsp;team,&nbsp;sharing&nbsp;stories&nbsp;and&nbsp;laughter&nbsp;between&nbsp;tasks.&nbsp;There&nbsp;was&nbsp;an&nbsp;undeniable&nbsp;connection&nbsp;between&nbsp;us,&nbsp;one&nbsp;I&nbsp;couldn’t&nbsp;quite&nbsp;put&nbsp;into&nbsp;words. Yet,&nbsp;despite&nbsp;the&nbsp;sparks&nbsp;flying,&nbsp;I&nbsp;hesitated&nbsp;to&nbsp;ask&nbsp;for&nbsp;her&nbsp;number&nbsp;at&nbsp;the&nbsp;end&nbsp;of&nbsp;our&nbsp;shift.&nbsp;I&nbsp;feared&nbsp;rejection,&nbsp;so&nbsp;I&nbsp;let&nbsp;the&nbsp;moment&nbsp;pass.&nbsp;But&nbsp;fate&nbsp;had&nbsp;other&nbsp;plans.&nbsp;A&nbsp;couple&nbsp;of&nbsp;days&nbsp;later,&nbsp;my&nbsp;phone&nbsp;rang—it&nbsp;was&nbsp;her!&nbsp;She&nbsp;had&nbsp;gotten&nbsp;my&nbsp;number&nbsp;from&nbsp;my&nbsp;mom&nbsp;and&nbsp;called&nbsp;just&nbsp;to&nbsp;check&nbsp;on&nbsp;me.&nbsp;That&nbsp;simple&nbsp;gesture&nbsp;set&nbsp;everything&nbsp;into&nbsp;motion,&nbsp;and&nbsp;from&nbsp;that&nbsp;moment,&nbsp;our&nbsp;love&nbsp;story&nbsp;truly&nbsp;began. God&nbsp;blessed&nbsp;our&nbsp;union&nbsp;with&nbsp;two&nbsp;children&nbsp;at&nbsp;first.&nbsp;In&nbsp;2012,&nbsp;we&nbsp;welcomed&nbsp;our&nbsp;third&nbsp;child,&nbsp;but&nbsp;tragically,&nbsp;we&nbsp;lost&nbsp;him&nbsp;the&nbsp;following&nbsp;year.&nbsp;His&nbsp;passing&nbsp;left&nbsp;us&nbsp;heartbroken,&nbsp;and&nbsp;for&nbsp;years,&nbsp;we&nbsp;mourned&nbsp;and&nbsp;grieved&nbsp;him.&nbsp;Yet,&nbsp;even&nbsp;in&nbsp;our&nbsp;sorrow,&nbsp;God’s&nbsp;grace&nbsp;carried&nbsp;us&nbsp;through.&nbsp;In&nbsp;time,&nbsp;He&nbsp;brought&nbsp;joy&nbsp;back&nbsp;into&nbsp;our&nbsp;lives,&nbsp;blessing&nbsp;us&nbsp;with&nbsp;two&nbsp;more&nbsp;children&nbsp;who&nbsp;have&nbsp;filled&nbsp;our&nbsp;hearts&nbsp;with&nbsp;love&nbsp;and&nbsp;laughter.&nbsp;Today,&nbsp;we&nbsp;are&nbsp;proud&nbsp;and&nbsp;grateful&nbsp;parents&nbsp;of&nbsp;four&nbsp;wonderful&nbsp;children,&nbsp;whom&nbsp;we&nbsp;cherish&nbsp;with&nbsp;all&nbsp;our&nbsp;hearts. Our&nbsp;journey&nbsp;together&nbsp;continued&nbsp;to&nbsp;unfold,&nbsp;and&nbsp;on&nbsp;March&nbsp;13,&nbsp;2017,&nbsp;we&nbsp;became&nbsp;husband&nbsp;and&nbsp;wife.&nbsp;Every&nbsp;step&nbsp;of&nbsp;our&nbsp;story&nbsp;has&nbsp;been&nbsp;guided&nbsp;by&nbsp;love,&nbsp;faith,&nbsp;and&nbsp;resilience. Looking&nbsp;back,&nbsp;I&nbsp;realize&nbsp;that&nbsp;love&nbsp;often&nbsp;finds&nbsp;you&nbsp;when&nbsp;you&nbsp;least&nbsp;expect&nbsp;it—but&nbsp;when&nbsp;it&nbsp;does,&nbsp;it&nbsp;changes&nbsp;everything.&nbsp;And&nbsp;I&nbsp;wouldn’t&nbsp;have&nbsp;it&nbsp;any&nbsp;other&nbsp;way.&nbsp;To&nbsp;celebrate&nbsp;our&nbsp;journey,&nbsp;we&nbsp;have&nbsp;decided&nbsp;to&nbsp;renew&nbsp;our&nbsp;vows,&nbsp;reaffirming&nbsp;our&nbsp;love&nbsp;and&nbsp;commitment&nbsp;to&nbsp;each&nbsp;other.

Susan & Yaya

Susan & Yaya

Registry