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The words and lines blew me away. I think I read that epistle like 100 times that day. I was pleasantly surprised! I told him I would get back to him. I did my consultation with Daddy God and interestingly in the period of my “thinking”, my eyes were opened to the goodness in this Man that was in my corner all the while… My Spec and more! Just when he was doing a follow up on my response, (I guess he was nervous as to what my response would be). I had my answer ready…Yes!
Jerrie and I met in 2013 during our service year (NYSC) in Abuja. I was in Batch A (started in March) while he came in October with Batch C. I was the NCCF Music Director for Abuja at the time.
Jerrie joined the NCCF Choir during the Orientation Camp period. As with other members of the Choir, I was quite jovial with him when he and other members came for rehearsals and fellowship. Jerrie’s awesome singing, commitment and divine guidance led me in nominating him as my successor as Music Director of NCCF. I handed over the mantle of leadership to him in November and we remained really good friends even after his service year although he had to move back to Lagos while I remained in Abuja.
Through the years, we kept the line of communication open and stayed supportive of each other in our different endeavors. Jerrie seemed to me like my adopted brother who was my listening board, business partner, relationship advisor (lol) amongst other things. Jerrie has shared with me now that some of our friends and NCCF colleagues back then, had predicted we would become a couple and I always respond with “Really? I never would have imagined!” What shall we say to these things? We thank God for NYSC!
One fine morning in February 2020, Jerrie called and after we exchanged pleasantries, he said he had sent me a message on WhatsApp earlier (In this season, I was contently single). I read the message afterwards and let’s just say… my life did not remain the same. My Guy sent a really long write-up; expressing his interest and intention.
The words and lines blew me away. I think I read that epistle like 100 times that day. I was pleasantly surprised! I told him I would get back to him. I did my consultation with Daddy God and interestingly in the period of my “thinking”, my eyes were opened to the goodness in this Man that was in my corner all the while… My Spec and more! Just when he was doing a follow up on my response, (I guess he was nervous as to what my response would be). I had my answer ready…Yes!
It’s been a great journey despite the long distance and It’s amazing to see God’s love expressed through our relationship. I absolutely look forward to a beautiful forever with Jerrie (My Sucrose), closing up all forms of distance when we tie the knots (wink).
The thoughts of asking Lizzie out for a relationship (marriage) became pressing in February 2020. Two days before I asked, we had shared memories of NCCF and my friend, NIfesimi amongst others was really on my matter. It wasn’t such a right time for her then and being her counsellor, I didn’t want to appear as taking advantage. Not so like me, I did anyways, in a really long write-up on Tuesday morning. I resumed work thereafter but kept checking my phone for her reply. “I have goofed”, I said to myself (lol). I wasn’t coordinated, so I called. Sighs. She only came online late that morning.
Lizzie and I met in October 2013 at Kubwa Camp. She was the Music Director (MD) at the time and one of those faces we looked forward to seeing every evening at NCCF meetings. My Dad and I had plans about my PPA but strangely, they fell through. Lizzie nominated me as her successor amidst mixed feelings about NCCF rules and procedures.
When I told Lizzie I was giving it a second thought, she said that she had made her decision and would encourage me. By God’s grace, I became the Music Director. Lizzie and I became very close especially in the family house. When in the room the ‘brothers’ would say all sort of funny things to me suspecting something deeper between us but I just smiled. Lizzie, before she left the family house, made me like the environment as I eventually stayed there till the end of my service year. She was also supportive throughout my tenure as MD (GMD of Life).
After Service year, I returned to Lagos, moved on with life, but we kept in touch. I did not see her again until 2017 when I came for a fieldwork in Abuja. Funnily enough, we were too serious to think of the possibility of being in a relationship with each other (lol). If that line ever came up, it was to throw bantas. Lizzie was strangely the only female friend close to me in age.One would think I had a lot on my hands (lol) but time always made it clear and this special one, time has indeed made it clear. Lizzie has been my CBN.
I grew my savings with her even though she didn’t give me interest (well, now I have the CBN with me forever). She was also my business partner and first to support any idea I brought to the table.
The thoughts of asking Lizzie out for a relationship (marriage) became pressing in February 2020. Two days before I asked, we had shared memories of NCCF and my friend, NIfesimi amongst others was really on my matter. It wasn’t such a right time for her then and being her counsellor, I didn’t want to appear as taking advantage. Not so like me, I did anyways, in a really long write-up on Tuesday morning. I resumed work thereafter but kept checking my phone for her reply. “I have goofed”, I said to myself (lol). I wasn’t coordinated, so I called. Sighs. She only came online late that morning.
Fast forward, she made it very easy and even gave me a hint before her “official’ reply (lol) which came not too long afterwards. From that time and till now, it has been beautiful really. I give it up to God for making this happen. He composed and conducted the symphony. When I look back at the whole Abuja thing, I say to God, “You are hilarious!” As Lizzie would say, “The Jerrie that I know would not have made any attempt.” I agree (lol). But I did! Yes! Our friendship is about everything that has kept us going amidst this north and south polarity. The journey gets sweeter by the day. Hey Lizzie, I am counting down to when I’d be sharing “my world” with you.
“I don’t want the attention (senrenren) that comes with a public engagement proposal” This was me to Jerrie a few times in our relationship when the subject of engagement proposal slid into our conversations. I would say to him: “If I didn’t agree to marry you, we wouldn’t be doing this na, so please, another proposal wasn’t necessary”. With these subtle warnings and advice from me, I stayed enjoying the relationship without any thought of the subject of my writings today.
To mark our 2nd year relationship anniversary in February 2022, we planned to have a photo session and dinner afterwards. A physical meeting in Abuja in February didn’t come through and so we moved the plan to the next available opportunity and this led us to Friday, June 10, 2022. I already had conversations with our photographer (Miles) and we came up with two locations for the photo sessions, one of which included the restaurant where we would have dinner later that evening. The photo session at the outdoor venue went well.
We moved on to the next location; the restaurant and continued taking pictures with our photography team. I was a bit surprised that there was little resistance and such liberty for us to take pictures at different parts of their really beautiful space. Everyone seemed to be cooperating and about twice when some staff tried to ask questions, Jerrie and Miles (especially) quickly responded to them, and image capturing continued. I shared my thoughts about how easy the session was going with Jerrie a few times, and he said, “Oh, when I was making reservations, I already informed them about the photoshoot”. At this time, my sixth sense perceived something more was cooking, especially in the line of a proposal but l shrugged it off because at the first location of the photo session, Jerrie “apologized” for the absence of a ring on my finger, in what turned out to be one of our pre-wedding photos. My response: “...I am fine without it.” Hearing this earlier that day, I felt in the right telling my intuition, “keep quiet, nothing is happening tonight.”
After pictures, we bid good night to our photography team and moved on to have dinner. Before dinner commenced, Miles came whispering some things in Jerrie’s ears and he left. Jerrie paused for a while and asked us to swap seat positions at the table, he wanted to face the entrance of the space we were in. I innocently changed position. I asked what the whispering of Miles was about and he made up some lines about Miles informing him about some next day arrangement. At this point, I reminded my sixth sense that if a proposal was going to happen, the photographers wouldn’t leave because the Jerrie that I know would love to have memories of the event, “so please allow me eat in peace” I concluded. We ate, conversed and had a good time generally. When we were done eating, it was taking some time for someone to attend to our bills so we could move. I began nudging Jerrie as I do most of the time, “We should be leaving now, it’s getting late”.
While waiting to settle the bill, I saw a cake moving towards our direction and I said to Jerrie, “Who is celebrating birthday?” …in seconds, the Cake was in front of me with the words: “Will you marry me?” on it, before I looked up to Jerrie, he was on his knees saying some things I don’t recall. I was lost in the euphoria of the moment and did not even know what exactly I was doing as my eyes became teary. Looking around, I saw Miles and his team again as well as our friend, Nifesimi, who we saw earlier in the day and was supposedly not feeling fine. Imagine my surprise to see him excited as part of a team who just released a blockbuster movie. A Beautiful Surprise it was and an awesome opportunity to say YES again to my Sweet Love, Jerrie!
We are immensely grateful for the thought to express your love towards our new life together through gifts.
For cash gifts, kindly see bank details below. If you would rather give us a physical gift, we look forward to unwrapping your unique surprises.