God that he wanted tomarry a woman who looked like a model and how I fit that description. I was not so sure of him at that time. Well, we exchanged numbers and talked. Actually, we talked for four months, and thenhe came toLasVegas to visit. He was gentle. And lovely. I was still at the family friend’s house, so he checked into a hotel and came home with me to eat. I had prepared some spinach sauce with eggs and plantain, which he enjoyed so much. The rest is history! He didn’t even go back to sleep in his hotel. We did a long-distance thing for a while before he relocated to Vegas. He loved Vegas as much as I did. In 2009, we rented a place together. Of course, we struggled for a while. I had just finished with my Bachelor’s degree and did not have a good job. Like any normal couple, we had our good days and bad days. I remember when he proposed. We were on a cruise to the Bahamas. I knew something was coming because he had asked for the size of my ring finger earlier on. However, I did not know when he would propose. He kept me in suspense. At first, we went for a nice romantic dinner; that was where I thought he would propose, but he didn’t. Then we drove all the way to California, and still nothing happened. Then we went for the cruise on December 24th, 2011, and it happened! Of course I said “yes!” We got married in 2012. We have been married for eleven years. My mom really loves him, my family adores him, and even my father warmed up to him later on in our marriage. Our wedding was a small, intimate ceremony with just family and close friends. Emmanuel always says that he thanks God for giving him a naturally caring and loving wife. Once, he told me that I exemplify God’s heart in an exceptional way. That was nice to hear. I think that in our marriage, I am the one who is more open to communication. My husband is quiet, but I don’t like things to fester. I always ensure that the air is cleared early. I created an ‘open door policy’ in the house that allows us both to open up when there is a misunderstanding. I am a family person. Family was one of the greatest values my mother instilled in us. When it comes to my kids, Kenechukwu and Keonna, they are my heartbeats. They make me want to take better care of myself and live longer. I was nervous when I first found out I was pregnant with my son. For one thing, I didn’t want to grow big, but I was also scared of the unknown; I had heard a lot about post-traumatic stress. My husband was happy, and of course his body went through no transformation. 22 The Birthday Journal
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