It was the summer of 2010, in Charlottesville, Virginia when Facebook connected us together for our first initial conversation. One of the unique things that we had in common was that our birthdays are just a day apart. Joshua was born January 7th and Micheal was born January 8th . During this conversation, Joshua asked Micheal for something to eat. And anyone who knows Joshua knows that he loves food. Joshua acted like he didn’t have any money, but little did Micheal know it was his way of getting to see him in person. It was on that day when they began talking every day, all day and all night. From text messages, phone calls and Facetimes. There were so many nights that they just stayed on the phone until one of them fell asleep.

It was on September 8, 2010, in the parking lot of Bodo Bagels, they decided to start secretly dating each other. They said “secretly” because they had not come out to their families yet. Only their close friends were aware that they were dating is this was due to them being so heavily involved in ministry and how they were raised. They honestly didn’t expect to fall for each other the way that they did… But they really like each other.

Then December 2010, a wrench was thrown into their relationship. Joshua received news from his spiritual parents that we would be moving to Virginia Beach in January 2011. What were we going to do? We had just got into a relationship and now Joshua was going to move two and a half hours away and things were going so well. We agreed that we would try the long distance thing, but Micheal made it clear that he was not going to move from the country or leave his mom or daughter. We talked everyday for hours at a time. Micheal drove down almost every weekend. One day we were talking and Micheal said, ‘I am going to see if I can telework from home.” He really wanted to be closer to Joshua and I think he finally realize that in order to do that he needed to move to the Tidewater area.

In 2012, Micheal stated that his boss approved him to work from home. He stated, “I’m moving and we are getting a place together.” He found us a townhouse in Hampton, Virginia. And the rest is history…

We have continued to build our future together. We have two biological children Mikinnah and Kenyan prior to our relationship. We have also adopted three children during our relationship. Nashya, Myanna and Damarcis. We have moved to many cities together, built three homes together, did ministry Together, sang duets together and now taking this forever step together.

It was on our anniversary, September 8, 2023, that Joshua proposed to Micheal at the melting pot. We couldn’t be more thrilled for this next chapter of our lives together to begin, and we are excited to celebrate our true love with families and friends on October 25, 2025.