We’re
Engaged!!
How We Met: Her Side
“You are what I never knew I always wanted”
2014 was an interesting and eventful year. I studied abroad in Cape Town, graduated from business school, and…it’s When Keshia Met Corey (see what I did there?)!
Whatevs at first sight… Corey and I technically first met when I came to interview for a job at his organization (shout out to LEAD Public Schools!). I was walking through the office with the COO, and she introduced us and asked him a question about logins to data systems. I thought he was handsome and seemed confident ( ::cough:: arrogant ::cough::), but I assumed he had a girlfriend and was really focused on getting a job before graduation…so I basically was like “whatevs” and didn’t think much of the meeting again after that.
Something at second sight… Fast forward three-ish months – I was just starting my new job, and Corey came smiling into my office to help me with an assignment my first week. I felt some weird feeling that I’d never felt before – as if my soul had jumped ahead and gotten a peak at the future, sharing a little glimmer of that excitement with me. He would check on me from time to time, and finally, after a whole two or three weeks, he picked up the hints that he should ask me out on a date!
The first date… We agreed to meet in his neighborhood, and I was (as usual) running a little late. Also being #teamSprint at the time, my GPS totally went out mid-drive, the easiest road to use was blocked, and I was totally lost, embarrassed, and a little panicked. I called him, and he quickly found me and led me Rosepepper, and didn’t make me feel bad about it at all. It was a fun, relaxed, and memorable first date!
Setting the tone… It seemed simple at the time, but for the past almost four years (just like on that night), he’s still been my calm and my comfort and my rock, helping me navigate complicated work and career situations, pushing me to be a little more flexible and spontaneous, and assuring me that life can still be beautiful, even if it doesn’t always go according to plan. He balances me out so well. It reminds me of Proverbs 19:21…
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.”
I would also say that our relationship, for me, embodies one of my favorite songs – “Nothing Even Matters” by Lauryn Hill & D’Angelo – helping me tune out the worries, anxiety, and stress of daily life to focus on love, growth, and happiness!
I can’t control everything (as much as I would LOVE to be able to), but with him, I know that things will still be ok. He has also accepted me just as I am (hair bonnet and all!) and only helped me change for the better. He’s the first guy outside of my family who I’ve felt fully comfortable with, and it is special to feel that you have someone who will fight for you and not tire of you, even at your worst. I’m so excited for our partnership, union, future, and the legacy we’ll leave through fulfilling God’s purposes!
Here are a few of my favorite memories of the times that we’ve shared
- Finding out that we both love whiskey (he was shocked!)
- Chilling on his futon or my air mattress (because both of us had just moved when we started dating, and neither of us had couches yet)
- Exposing him to Thai and Indian food
- Road tripping to Charleston!
- Soooo many concerts – Chris Brown (twice), Fabolous, Jill Scott, John Legend, Machine Gun Kelly, Kehlani, Logic, and the list goes on…
- Two outdoor music festivals (the things you do for love), the 2nd time with the Onis
- Painting art and painting walls
- Drinks and video games or board games or dance parties at home
- Simple days walking through the park in East Nashville
- Being spoiled by Fleming’s or J. Alexander’s dinners on special occasions
- Greetings always beginning with a hug and a kiss and phone calls always ending with “I love you”
Bring Your
Dancing Shoes!!