We first met in 2004, as I was walking down MLK to Tiana's house. A car rode passed with three men hanging out the windows, yelling all at once, trying to get my attention. Their behavior made me very uncomfortable. I ignored them and preceded to walk. I noticed the car made an u-turn, so I began to walk faster. The car slowed as it approached. Out comes this tall, handsome Puerto Rican man smiling as he made his way towards me. The first thing he said was an apology for his friends' inappropriate behavior and then began walking with me to my destination, shooting his shot. I felt like a damsel in distress, and he was my knight in shining amor. He protected me. He made me feel safe, as he has done the 13 years we have been together.

Jumping backward. We parted ways shortly after our first meeting. We met again on Christmas day in 2008. I hadn't seen or heard from him again since 2004. He decided to shoot his shot again using the same damsel in the distress act. I was searching the rode looking for a gold ring that Taleah just received it as a gift. He walked up to me and asked if he could help search and pretended to find it to get my attention. It had been four years, He gained a few pounds. Would you believe I didn't recognize him. Sadly, he had to refresh my memory. Lol

Unlike our first union. This time was different. We'd both matured and had most of the same goals and affirmations for our future. The second time around, we remained inseparable. He helped me raise my daughter as his own. We had our son Maleek less than one year later. Our family was complete.

Our 13 years of loving each other has been mostly easy. We've had gains, and we've had life changing losses. We've had more ups than downs. Through it all, we always chose each other. We will always choose each other because he's mine and I am his.

The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord - Proverbs 18:22

I pray God bless our marriage and children. I pray our relationship with the Lord strengthens to solidify our union.

Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.- 1 Corinthians 13:4-8.