Our Story
Mandrell and I met very randonly at my job in early January 2006 as a result of him coming by to say hello to his sister-in-law, Mieasha. Nonetheless, as I was rushing by to prepare for my first staff meeting, I noticed this really tall and nice looking gentleman, but truthfully I was really trying my darndest to stay focused on my work. I brushed our encouter off as a "nice piece of eye candy" that came by - which happens pretty rarely working in an all woman / girl environment :-)
This first "meeting" of ours went by without anything more than a smile and a "have a nice day" and it would be another week before our paths crossed again.
Well, luckily for me, the next week, which I now know was a strategic move of his, Mandrell returned to my job and we had a chance to briefly talk about some basic things like the weather, my new job, and, oh yeah, brother cuts to the chase and asked me about my Valentine's Day!!
I replied casually about how Kameron (my son) and I ate pizza and salad and watched a tv program - and he ever so slyly mentioned that he, too, did not have a date on V-Day and spent his time playing ball at the gym. Funny enough this conversation was going so well that I think I was beaming ear to ear for the rest of the week!!
Eventually, Mandrell returned again to the J-O-B to "officially" ask me on a first date and as they say the rest is history.
He proposed to me on May 23, 2006 (we officially become a couple on April 6, 2006) and we have been on cloud nine ever since!
The proposal was so sweet and to this day I'm blown away by his affection towards my son and I.
The Proposal
My sweetie and I went to see "Mission Impossible III" at Atlantic Station on Sun, May 21, 2006. During the movie, there was a scene in which Tom Cruise marries his fiance with a bubble gum ring. Well, a few days later, Mandrell and I were talking about the particulars of the movie and somewhere in the conversation I mentioned to him that I, too, would get married with a bubble gum ring.
As it he had struck gold, Mandrell's eyes soon began to "LIGHT UP" - literally. Before I knew it, "The Man" was putting his shoes on (at 11'ish pm) and says he's "going to Walmart to get a bubble gum ring - I'll be back soon." As I'm laughing at him (b/c I really thought he was teasing) he yells from downstairs the house alarm code (which he had never done) and that is when I began to get nervous, yet excited, that he MIGHT be serious.
When he left I called everyone I could think of (including my bestfriends) and no one answered the line. Finally, he returns at about 2am (and for anyone who knows me I was knocked out in deep REM sleep) and he awakens Kameron FIRST to ask him for permission to propose.
Kameron tells Mandrell the big Y-E-S and then they both come to wake me up. When I awakened, everything seemed like a fairytale b/c I noticed my son smiling so angelicly telling me to wake up. Mandrell who was standing next to Kameron was smiling and pouring beads of sweat holding a beautiful gold and pink butterfly bubble gum ring in his hand!!
Mandrell then repeats his sweet words about how he felt for me and then Kameron interjects to ask him if there was a Bible in the house. Kameron returns with the Bible and the instructions were given to me, by my son, to close my eyes. Unsuspectingly when I opened them, lo and behold, Mandrell had placed a beautiful round cut diamond ring on my finger. I was at such a loss for words, as all I can remember is muttering "Where's my bubble gum ring?" After a long hug and kiss, I finally answered Mandrell's question with the loudest "Yes" and we then said our first family prayer. We tried to call a few family members to share the joy and officially broke the news to our family and friends the following day.
We share so many things in common yet we also seem to be polar opposites in others. We are truly blessed to be in this moment and we ask that you pray for us along this beautiful journey.
