Hi everyone, it has been a while, I know, I know and I’m sorry. For those of you who don’t know or simply just want to know a little bit more. The last year has been a whirlwind, I got engaged, I graduated college, I am taking the MCAT, and I am moving to Los Angeles! Needless to say, a lot has happened! While I’ve announced these things on my Instagram briefly, I’ve just felt such a strong need to be present 100% in this stage of my life and be intentional in how I am spending my time and just overall gathering myself so that I can be of service to guys. Now that all the events seem to be winding down –sort of­– and I have a grasp of what is actually happening in my life, I feel it’s a good time to share with you guys this period of change, these exciting news, and how I’m dealing with everything. This is going to be a 2- or 3-part series (I haven’t decided yet) in which I am going to be totally open and honest with all things in my life right now. Let’s start with the biggest game changer and what I really think people what to know more about at this moment (insert dramatic thum thum thum sound effect, if y’all feel me).

The engagement. I’ll give you a mini background on Robert and I. Robert and I are  high school sweethearts and has been gracing me with his presence since the ripe age of 14. I was 14 and he was 15 when we first started dating on March 30^th, 2012. We first officially met in Geometry. This isn’t all lovey-dovey believe it or not, we really didn’t like each other at first since he always had something to say about me (and it was normally awkward things like “your crop sweater is too short”) but, my Geometry teacher, Mrs. Colli, told me to reach out to him for help since oddly enough I was failing Geometry and he happened to be the best student in our class! He helped me and  I got to know this sweet, caring, funny, passionate, and soulful individual. The list could go on and on but seriously guys to know Robert is just to love him, he is just such a blessing and a light in my life. And he helped me pass geometry, that’s a plus so the rest was history.

Fast forward to March 29^th,2019, we were off to celebrate our 7^thyear anniversary a day early since he had to work on the 30^th. My friends and roommates at the time, Karina and Caroline, had convinced me he was going to propose THAT NIGHT, AT DINNER. So, like any reasonable woman I tried not to get my hopes up and pretend like that’s not at ALL what I had been thinking about the last few months (note the sarcasm here). The moments leading up to the dinner, I had made up this crazy scenario in my head that he had arranged for all our family and friends to be waiting for us at the restaurant ready to surprise me. SO MUCH SO, that when I asked my friend Carla to borrow some shoes and she told me she wasn’t home, I convinced myself that she was lying to buy herself some time to get to the restaurant. Crazy… I know. So, we went to dinner, ordered our dinner, and finished our dinner and to my dismay, no proposal. This was the perfect setup for the next day (the setup was not intentional). March 30^th,2019 started off as any other day, Robert went to work, I put on workout clothes and did not work out. Robert’s sister, Raffaella, and I went to go pick him up from work and he suggested that we go get ice cream, but it was 10 pm at this point and I was like “Robert, there are no ice cream parlors open at this time.” but then I suggested we just go to the beach since he lives right by it. So we get home, Raffaella, stays at the house and Robert and I walk to the beach. So were walking and talking about the past 7 years and how wonderful they’ve been then Robert starts yelling like a mad-man –I now know it was just the nerves­– but he’s just yelling about a man that was peeing on the boulevard earlier and going at it! Then, by a miracle Robert gathered himself and started talking to me again and was just completely absorbed by the moment. Without yelling, he got down on one knee and promised me his heart and last name.

I said I would be completely honest, so I feel like this is something I must mentioned. Since the engagement there have been people who have just tried to project their negativity onto Robert and I by saying we are too young to even be thinking about marriage. Not that it’s anyone’s business actually nor do I owe anyone an explanation. 1. I have faith and am trusting in God’s plan for my life 1000% that he will bless our marriage, he is and will continue to guide us, and that we have a purpose, maybe it’s to show those same people love and just be a light for them. 2. A big part of what has allowed Robert and I grow closer together instead of apart even after all these years, is the fact that we know who we are. Independently as well as each other, we know our passions and we know our dreams for ourselves and we envision how beautifully we would grow together. Throughout undergrad we only saw each other really once every two weeks! We really spent with just ourselves and our friends and had jobs, we gave each other that space to find ourselves and who we are. Then, when we come together it’s beautiful and we really appreciate each others company and  the perfect balancing beam is created of two whole individuals, instead of 2 halves trying to make a whole. That just doesn’t work.  We still have a lot more to learn and grow from and while we know we CAN do it alone. We CHOOSE to do it together. Either way, exciting things are happening guys and two things I know for sure are that Robert and I share a love that could last 10,000 life times! It’s truly changing me, my mentally, and my overall outlook.

Stay tuned, I promise I won’t make you wait a year! I also encouraged you to ask questions or just share some thoughts. Enjoy the beautiful engagement photos taken by Liron Asher and check out my instagram and her instagram for more!

warmest wishes,

Winny ❤️