It all began at the wedding of a mutual friend at Ingalls Harbor in Decatur, AL. If you let Kai tell the story, he claims he laid eyes on me (Shymyia) the moment he walked through the door. But from my perspective, I first noticed Kai later in the evening, standing off to himself at the venue before joining a group of my cousins and friends. Naturally curious, I asked them, “Who’s that siddity guy with y’all, and why does he have those shades on?” While we didn’t leave the wedding together, fate stepped in, and we both ended up at the local Applebee’s with our respective groups of friends. Throughout the evening, I was told multiple times to “stop being mean,” which, as I later found out, Kai actually liked—the “mean girl” vibes had caught his attention! It was there, over food, laughter, and socializing, that we exchanged numbers—and yes, I even took off my girdle, officially marking the beginning of our story. At the time, my son Hendrix was just four months old, and I was on a journey of healing and rediscovering myself. Kai didn’t hesitate to step in and take me in—a girl with a healing heart—and show me unconditional love. He not only embraced me but also my son, and together, they formed a bond that melted my heart. Our first official date was at J. Alexander’s, setting the tone for a relationship filled with love, laughter, and countless adventures. Also, a couple of months later, in July, while we were in Atlanta, Kai officially asked me to be his girlfriend, sealing the deal on our growing love story. Along the way, I also got to know and love Kai’s beautiful daughter, Keria, who became a special part of our blended family. Exactly one year after that magical night at the wedding, Kai proposed to me at Bridgestreet, surrounded by our family and close friends. Since then, we’ve built a beautiful life together—buying a new home, countless adventures, and even surviving the chaos of nurse practitioner school as a team. Our story is truly one of faith, love, and new beginnings. Just like the book of Malachi reminds us of God’s covenant and faithfulness, we see our union as a reflection of His promise: "I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in" (Malachi 3:10). Now, we’re so excited to celebrate this next chapter of our journey with all of you. Here’s to love, laughter, and a lifetime of blessings Love, The Malones