We met officially, October 9th, 2015. It was a Friday. Wali had called a few weeks prior after a mutual friend, Joey, suggested Tierra as a business referral for consulting, for his men's ministry disguised as just a "t-shirt" idea. He confirmed his scheduled consultation that Monday, after being unsure about being able to make it. Now knowing Wali for who he is, she understands why only her future husband would choose to walk through the back door of her building. "My spirit jumped, when I first encountered him. I remember thinking 'Aww come on God, heck no'". The appointment was scheduled to last 1 hour...it lasted 4 hours. We could not stop talking and laughing, covering everything from past, present, future - God, life lessons, dreams, hobbies, and faith. Over the next few weeks they would both be seeking God for confirmation on one another. "I fasted. We were talking consistently all day for a few days, then she went MIA. I was thinking 'how did we break up before we even got together' lol", says Wali. "It turns out we were both fasting, we knew what was up. I also received confirmation on what God was doing, from one of my spiritual mentors. And she had no idea in the natural what was going on in my life", says Tierra. Our relationship is a #Godthing, we couldn't have put this together this well. We are both beyond grateful to God. He definitely gave us more than what we could have ask for or thought of.

I had lost my job about 8 months prior. I had just opened up a business off faith and that was actually how Wali came to know me. I was in a place in my life where I knew something new was coming, but I was so apprehensive because of how my previous relationships had turned out. I truly was not interested in having my heart broken again, or being disappointed. As one could imagine I greeted Wali with a smile and a guarded heart. I remember God reassuring me that my husband would love me like Christ loves the church - unconditionally. I knew I would "just know" when I met "him" as there was this feeling in my gut that was all to familiar from spending time with God.

A friend whom I call a brother, JB (Joey) referred me to him for consulting. I knew "this" time was coming however, I was so caught off guard. Here comes this guy, overly excited but pretending to be chill, coming through the back door. I remember making a joke like watch this be my husband, but when I spoke with him via phone I thought he was 50. Everything was "yes maam"...I was like he has to be old, and then it didn't help that his FB photo was blurry, so I was expecting someone older. I paid no attention to Wali physically initially, but I could not get over the way my spirit jumped the moment I met him. I still tried to ignore it. The reality was, I loved Wali from the moment he walked into my life, and I almost lost my cool and told him the first day; but this love was not at first sight, this is something God put on the inside of me specifically for him, before I met him physically, I met him and knew him spiritually. Everything about him fit, including his tenacity to love me in some of my most guarded moments. In those moments I got to experience that unconditional love God promised. I am so in love with you Wali, so grateful to do life with you, ignorance with you, purpose with you, family with you (he fit right in with my family, reminding me alot of my dad). I love you Wali Jeremiah Lathan and I am so looking forward to waking up to you tangibly for the rest of my life, with that fine grey beard I prayed for, morning breath and all.

I had been through so much over the past few years. All my life I waited for this moment. It is crazy to know what my wife looks like. I got way more than I prayed for. I was in a dry season of my life and I had been saving every penny, well I was saving every one dollar bill that I got from breaking larger bills. I had gotten my passport, and I was saving to start my clothing line. One of now groomsmen and the guy behind the t-shirts, Joey, referred this young lady to me. He said "you gonna do more than t-shirts? I mean wassup...man you gotta holla at T Cobbs, get your business going". I gave this woman a call and I had no clue how I was going to meet up with her. As faith and destiny would have it God made a way.

As I was heading to this consultation to meet Tierra, I remember thinking about how I used to travel the same highways in the past, doing all the wrong things. It made me think back to decisions I made and how life could have been so different for me. Here I was on my way to start this company/ministry that represented leaving the "other side" and choosing to be a man that would reach back and help the next man up. Was this really happening? God was and is still so faithful. I cried on the ride, I was so grateful for all God had done. My life had changed so much! I never in a million years thought I was going to meet my wife, though. It had been spoken over my life repeatedly but I didn't expect it that day, but I knew I was going to be ready when she showed up.

I came into the wrong door, and the building just felt like home, there was a peace about her presence. I was comfortable, she gave me a tour, and I remember thinking "not now God, are you kidding". When she offered the tour, that's when I saw how she walked, I knew she was a "hooper". This was different, but what did it for me, aside from me feeling comfortable enough to share my whole life story, was this...as we were conversing about life, in response to my comment she said "if you put the right seed in the wrong soil, it still won't grow". I had no clue she had just taught on this in her women's ministry group - I was just stuck on what she said. That's when I couldn't deny it anymore, this was really happening. About two weeks later, when we met up again, I had it in my mind to tell her my intentions for our future. Little did I know she could tell what as going on.We went back and forth about why I was so jittery and finally she said "what's the point of practicing if you ain't gonna shoot". That was it! It was sealed after our first date (church), when I learned that she could handle how loud I was when I praise.

We happened to get some wisdom from some Godly counsel, in which it was suggested we allow our relationship to settle, enjoy one another. We are both so grateful we took heed to that advice. "I thought Wali would have proposed at my birthday party, but I guess he had something else in mind. I was so caught off guard, thinking it was a family dinner to love on my grandma", says Tierra. "I paid attention to every detail of her desire for the ring she wanted, and I had to make sure it was fit for my queen, but as important, her family had to be present. All the other times I had in mind to propose, just were not the perfect fit for my gift. October 9th was the perfect fit, our one year anniversary. Everything I planned on saying kind of went out the door, I was so overwhelmed with joy", says Wali. "When I finally was able to talk, I said 'yes'. Reflecting on this moment, I can only say God is Faithful. When I got the chance to gather myself, all I could tell Wali was 'thank you for keeping your word'. He had told me his intentions a year ago. I cried then and I cried even harder at the engagement", says Tierra.

This truly is #aGODthing and we truly are #theperfectfit.