I got my first job as a nurse at Riverside Community Hospital in the Emergency Department where I met Erik Andrews. For those who do know me I'm a very shy person and slow to warm when around new people. So, in the beginning I didn't talk much and just focused on my task. Every time Erik would offer his help, I would either deny him or try to do the work as fast as I could so that he didn't notice my red face. He made me very nervous, I tried very hard to avoid him, never making eye contact when he was around. It felt like I was in Junior High all over again.

This went on for a couple of months and I couldn't stand having these weird feelings. So, I thought of this great idea, maybe if I act like one of the guys it would get rid of my feelings and I would only see him as a friend. So, I started slowly talking to him about his school and was so surprised at how open he was to me. Mind you, I met Erik with a shaved head with tattoos, so off the bat I assumed that he was like this tough guy who wasn't going to say much. But, I was pleasantly surprised that he did not match his exterior. We actually had so much in common! Our foundations of family being the most important people of our lives and having to grow up fast due to hardships are some of the many things that made me fall in love with him. He has so much substance and such a gentleman, didn't know that this man existed.

I am so thankful for the life that I've been presented and the wonderful gift I was given. I know it sounds corny, but I really believe that God molded our lives to make sure that when we met that we would be ready for each other.

Rochelle came aboard at the hospital when I was finishing my fourth year there. At first she was simply a pretty young lady on dayshift, quiet and focused with an electric smile that she usually kept under wraps. I grew more and more aware of her, I would pick up where she was assigned during orientation, make sure I offered my help and always in the coolest way possible. Then she came to night shift. Now I begin to notice her car when I am arriving to work and I notice the excitement it causes for me, a bright spot on my way to another hard twelve hours of work. 

Then came nursing school. Being a recent graduate, this gave me an endless conversation piece with Rochelle! When I was able I would yammer on about nursing school with her, this is when she began to show me small bits of her personality. This quiet young woman had plenty to say! She was so smart and insightful and even when we were little more than co-workers she cheered me on and cheered me up while I struggled with the rigors of school. 

Needless to say she was not what I had thought her to be. She was dynamic, tough and self-made. Once we gathered the courage to spend time with one another outside of work the misconceptions continued to crumble and I fell deeper and deeper in love with Rochelle. 

I still remember the hot May night when I stood in my garage with my darling Brian. I told him that Rochelle would be his sister-in-law, that I knew she was the one. The beginning is history, but there is a great story to be told ahead.