GettensWedAlbum_Low_Res

Wedding
OUR
Kimberly&
Donald
OurStory
pg1
The
Wedding
Partypg9

Italstartedin2016.ithadbeenalmosta
yearsinceI'venotbeeninarelationship.I
triedthedatingthingandnotsurprisingly,it
wasafailureeverytime.Igottothepointin
lifewhereIwasjustreadyforchange.In
March2016,Iwrotedownmygoals,madea
prayerlistandstucktoit. Oneofthethings
ononmyprayerlistwasforGodtosendmea
greatmanofGodwhowouldloveandcherish
meandmykids.
OnedaywhilescrolingthroughmyFacebook
timelineInoticedDonald. Iremembered
himfromhighschool,weneverrealyconversed,buthewasalwaysquietandalways
smiling. Istartednoticinghispicturesalot
moreandIbegantoscrolthroughhispage
andtoldmyself"NowthisiswhatIneedin
mylife,amanofGodwhoisnotonlyaGod
fearingman,butheisFINNEEEEEE !
From thatpointonIstartedlikingand
heartingalhispicturesandpoststryingtoget
hisatention.However,thatwasnotworking
ashewasnotthatatentivetofacebook.Any
otherguywouldhaveinstantlyjumpedinmy
inboxafterlikingonepicture,butnothim,he
definitelywascutfromadiferentfabric.It
wasjustsomethingabouthim,notjust
physicalatraction,buthisspirit,hislovefor
God,hisboldnesinspeakingthegospel
withoutacareintheworldofwhatothers
maythink.NotonlydidIlovethatabouthim,
butIwantedtobejustlikehimspiritualy.I
finalygaveinanddidsomethingIhavenever
donebefore.Iinboxedhim,notinathirsty
way,butinawaythatletshimknowIseethe
Godinhim…Ialsoseehimspiritualy.Iasked
him"whatchurchdoyouatend?" Cheesy,
butanhonestandgenuinequestion,he
respondedtelingmewhereheatendedand
fromthatpointonitwashistory.
SoIprayedthroughoutthosemonthsforgrowth
mentalyandspiritualy.IalsoprayedthatGod
wouldpreparemetobethewifeoftheprepared
boazHehasforme,whoatthattimeIbelieved
wasDonald.
Iprayedandintercededforhimbeforeheeven
knewit. IkepttelingGod"IknowI'mnot
whereIneedtobespiritualywithyouLord,but
pleasesavethismanforme."
lasttimeIhadbuterfliesseeingsomeone,but
whenIsawhimIwassoooooscaredandshyand
kindofspeechles.Ididn'trealyknowwhatto
saybut"hey"andsmiled. Icouldn'tevenlook
himintheeyes.ItoldhimIwiljustgograbmy
seat. IwassonervousIfeltlikeIblewitby
tryingtorushtomyseatsofast,lol,buthesmiled
andhappilycontinuedontohosthisshowandit
wassimplyAMAZING.
Towardtheendhemadesureheacknowledged
alhisfamilyandfriendsthatshowedupandI
knewIwasapartofthatshoutoutsoIsimply
smiledwithin,butminuteslaterhegavemean
personalshoutout.oficialycalingmyname
outsaying ."Iwouldliketothankmyfriend
KimberlyLopesforcomingandsupportingme
tonight"andatthatpointmyheartstoppedfor
2reasons:(a)Iwassupershyandthismanjust
announcedmetotheworldandIlookedames
(atleastinmyeyes)lol,and(b)Ifelinlove
instantly,lol,amanthatwasnotafraidto
acknowledgemebynametotheworldandIwas
notevenhislady.AtthatmomentIknewhewas
myfuturehusband. Ifthiswasn'tasignfrom
GodthanIdidn'tknowwhatwas.
Aftertheshowwegreetedandcomplimented
eachother,tookpicturesandjustsmiledfromear
toearateachother.Thatnightweoficialy
swappedourphonenumbersaftermonthsof
communicatingthroughFacebook. Wetexted
andspokewitheachothereverydayfromthat
pointon.Weconnectedspiritualyandtherewas
definitely an undeniable physicalatraction Fromthatpointonmylifehadchange.Istarted
betweenuswhichwasatanaltimehigh. Days anew morningregimenwakingupanhour
Monthsofintermitentconversationgoesbyand andweekswentbyandmyloveforhimgrew earlierthannormaljusttoworkout,prayand
Octoberishere,themonthofhisgospelconcert. daily,butIwassoafraidbecauseinthebackofmy studytheword. Ididthiseverymorningfaithfulyat5:00am
Ibelieveatthattimewehadnotspokeninweeks, headIfeltanuncertaintythatcamefromhim.It
thanhadtowakemykidsup
buthewrotemetoremindmeaboutitsaying wasasifhewantedustowork,butsomething preppedandreadyforschoolat6:00am.Imade
thathehopedtoseemethereandmyreplywas"I waspulinghimbackfromevenopeningupor sureIgaveGodthetimeHedeservedevenifIhad
wouldn'tmisitfortheworld." Now,inmyhead givinghisaltome.
totolooseandhourofsleep. Ifastedaswel
Iwantedtobetheresobad,butmyhairwasn't
done.wel,Ididn'thaveanybangingweavein Wetriedtofindwaystoavoidtemptationsand
myhead,justmynaturalhair,soIwasseriously focusonoursalvation,ourrelationshipwith
consideringnotgoing. Ialsodidn'thaveanyone Christandjustbeinghonorablewhenitcameto
1
Weconversedofandonthroughsocial
mediaformonthsasfriendsandthroughout
thosemonthshowever,Iwasstillearningto
loveandfindmyself.Iwasstilclubbingand
partyinganddrinkingwithmyfriendsocasionaly,butIknewIwasreadyforachange
whengoingoutnolongerinterestmeandI
startedtofeeluncomfortableaboutthewayI
dresed.Ithought"howcanIwantamanof
God,butI'mactingandportrayingmyselflike
theDevilswife". Iwantedtobeawoman
thatwouldnotonlyatractamanofGod,but
awomanworthyenoughtoalsohaveamanof
God,prayforhim,lifthimupandintercede
onhisbehalf. Ididn'twanttofakeittobe
withhim,Iactualywantedtoberealwith
Godandwithhim.
towatchmykidsandIthought,"wel,IguesI
realycan'tgo"soIbasicalyremovedthethought
ofgoingsincenothingwasgoingmyway.Atthat
pointIdidn'tknowiftheseweresignsformenot
totogoorifitwasthedeviltryingtokeepmefrom
theworshipandablesing.ThenmycousinJosh
said"KimI'lwatchthekidsforyou,Igotyou".
AfteralongharddebatewithmyselfIdecidedto
go,afteral,IdidtelhimIwouldn'tmisitfor
theworld.
Istraightenmyhairasbestasposibleandthrew
onalitlebitofmakeupandheadedtohis
concert. ThemomentIgotthereandentered
thebuildingIsawhimandwhenIsaythatman
wastalbrownanddangerouslyhandsome,omgggg.hewasbeautiful.Icouldn'trememberthe
keepingourselves.Inmyheadthingsweregoing
good.Greatactualy,untilonenighthecaled
andtoldmewecannolongerdothisorbe
friendsanymore.HesaidGodisjusttelinghim
weneedtojusttakeabreakandweneedtolet
thisgo.
Now,Iwantedtosnapandblackoutonhim .
"althistimeweputinformetofalinlovewith
you,foryoutoturnaroundandsaywecan'ttalk
anymore.we were literaly texting smiling
laughingflirtingthatmorningthanhecaledme
andpuledthisstunt." AlIrememberedhim
sayingwas"Ijustneedyoutorespectmy
decision".AtthatpointIletgo,Ididn'targue,I
didn'tyelathim,Ididn'tsayanythingexcept
"ok"butIneverfeltsohurtandheartbroken,
2
becauseIfeltlikeeverythingwasperfect
betweenusandthiswasjustrandomandoutthe
blue,butithurtsobad.Thenextfewdaysware
noteasy,nottalkingtohimafterspendingweeks
andmonthstalkingtohimconsistentlyonadaily
basis,butIgottothepointwhereIjusthadtotalk
toGodandtelhimsory,andbegforhisforgive-
nes.
MyproblemwasIputpeoplebeforeGodwhen
realy He(God)should comefirstbefore
everyone.IprayedforthismanandGodblesed
mewithhim andinreturnIrepaidGodby
ditchingHimforthismanandnowthathewas
gonehereIcomecrawlingbacktoGodtotake
meback.IcriedoutandbegGodformercyand
forgivenesandtogivemeanotherchanceto
makeitrightwithHim.Iyearnedforastronger
andpersonalrelationshipwithGodbecauseal
myrelationshipswithmanhasfailed,butGod
wastherethen,nowandwilcontinuetobethere
formethroughoutital.Thattimealonehelped
merealizethatGodisalItrulyhaveandtruly
need.InstantlyIpickedmyselfbackupandmade
acommitmenttoGodalowingHimtousemeas
HepleasesandtousemeasHisvesel.Itriedit
mywaysomanytimesandfailedmiserablyand
nowIwasreadytotryitHiswayandseehowfar
andwhereHetakesme.Iwastiredoffailingand
IjustwantedeverythingGodhadforme.Imade
acommitmenttoGodtosavemyselftilmariage
andtogivemyselfandmylifewholeheartedly
overtoGod.

5 6

throughoutthemonthandeventhoumeand
DonaldwerenolongertalkingIstildecidedto
continuetogotohischurchforbiblestudy,
becauseatthispointitwasn'tabouthimitwas
aboutmypersonalrelationshipwithGodandthe
commitmentImadetoHim.SoeveryweekI
continuedtogo,butonceservicewasoverI
rushedoutsotherewouldn'tbeanyproblems.
WeekswentbyandIgotthisrandomphonecal
from(.)andIwaslookingconfusedastowhoin
theworldwasthis,thanIrememberIchangedhis
nameinmyphonetoaperiod(.)whichsymbolizes"TheEnd".AnywayIrealizedwhoitwas
andbecamehesitanttoanswerbecauseit'sbeen
overamonthsincewestoppedtalkingandhewas
theonewhosaidweshouldn'tcommunicateatal
anymore,butIansweredandthemomentIheard
hisvoicehesoundsooohappy. Iwascertainat
thatmomenthehadcaledthewrongnumberas
thereisnowaynowayhewasthathappytohear
myvoice,right?Weltomysurprisehewas.
heaskedmehoweverythingwasgoing,saidhe
justpasedbymyhouseandthoughtaboutme
anddecidedtocal. StilinshockIwasansweringhimunsureofhowtofeelorwhattosay,but
Ididfeelgoodthathereachedouttome. We
endedtheconversationonagoodnotejustleting
eachotherknowitwasgoodtohearfromyou
again.
Ihadabigsmileonmyfacetherestofthenight
andthatnightIrealizedthatIstilhadfriendin
himevenifweweren'ttogether. Whileatthe
folowingbiblestudyhetextsmewhileinchurch
talkingabout"heyyy"withsmileyfacesandat
thatmomentIbegantowonder"whatisheup
to?".Thiswastwiceinoneweek. Ireplied,but
thetextconversationendedjustassoonasit
started.OnceservicewasoverIwasgeting
readytorushoutoftherelikeInormalydo,but
hecamerushingovertome,gavemeahugand
webegantotalkaboutlifeandthegoodthings
thathadbeenhappeninginourlivesseparately.
Wetalkedforabout30minutesandthenhetold
mehemisesme. Myheartinstantlymeltedin
mychestbecauseIfeltthesame.Ineverstopped
caring,Ijustrespectedhisdecision.
Webegantoreminisceandsharedourhappy
timesforaboutanhourjustsitingoutsidethe
churchtalkingandweendedthenightonagood
note. Hewasfastingatthetimesohetoldme
oncehegetsofthefasthewouldreachouttome
andhedid.Tomysurpriseheinsteadinvitedme
outtobowlwithhismomanddad.
Iwashesitantaboutgoing,butmyheartwasstil
inlovewithhimwhilemymindwasthinking
"girl,you'resetingyourselfupforfailureagain."
Imeanwehadnottalkedinweeksandnowafter
twodaysofcommunicationheinvitesmeoutto
bowlandmeethisparents. Ididn'thaveaclue
whathewasgoingthrough,whathehonestlyfelt
andwhyhewasdoingwhathewasdoing,butI
wasjustgladtohavemyfriendbackinmylifeand
ifhewantedtometomeethisparents,thenIwas
upforit.WehititofandhadablastandIfelin
lovewithhisparentstoo.
Onthewayhome,IfeltlikeGodbroughtusto
thisintersectionwheretheredlightliteralyfroze
forabout5-10mins. Itookthatopportunityto
askDonaldwhatwasitthathehonestlywanted
fromme. Whybreakitofwithmeamonth
earliertonowtwodaysafterfinalyspeaking
againyoutakemetomeetyouparents.whatare
we?Arewejustfriendsisitmorethanfriends?I
justneededtoknowsoIknowhowtoguardand
protectmyheart.soIknowhowmuchofmeto
giveandhowmuchofmetoholdback.Hethen
openeduptomeandexplainEVERYTHINGand
hisreasonforshutingdownalcommunication
betweenus.Hetoldmeheisatapointinlife
wherehejustwantedtobehappyandhewas
happywithmeandhewantedtobewithme,but
hewasnotlookingforagirlfriend,he'slooking
forawifeandhewantedmetounderstandthose
werehisgoals,nottojustdate,buttoget
maried.
Iwashappytohearthatbecause,ItooagreedI
wasn'tdatingjusttodate. Iwantedtodate
someonewhowantedafutureandalifetogether
wherewecangrowoldtogether… someonewho
wantedtomarymejustasmuchasIwantedto
maryhim. Webothagreedonthelifewe
wantedandthelifewewantedtogether. We
agagreedonwhatwastocomenext,weagreedon
lovingeachother,keepingGodfirst,andsaving
ourselvesuntilmariage.Fromthatpointonwe
prayedtogether,ministeredtoeachother,poured
outoursoulstoeachother,thegood,thebad,the
uglyandtheindiferentwaslaidoutonthetable,
andwegrewdeeperanddeeperinlovewitheach
otherdaily.Blesingafterblesingafterblesing
begantocomeourwayandwebothagreedthatit
wasnobodybutGodshoweringuswithHis
goodnes,mercyandfavorbecausewechoseto
honorHimandputHimfirstinourrelationship.
Ibelieveitalstartedinhighschool! Inmy
eyesKimberlywasthelive,turntupgirlon
thegirlsbasketbalteam,shewasthepopular
pretygirlfromNewYork(shedoesnotlike
itwhenIsaythat)lol,andthentherewas
litleoleDonald,thequiteguyonthedrum
line. MaybeIshouldhaveplayedasportor
something. Itried,butitdidn'tworktoo
wel,soIstucktowhatIknew,ohwel,lol.
Althoughwesaweachotherandknewof
eachother,werealynevertalkedorhada
conversationinhighschoolandwebothlived
ourlivesafterhighschoolandwentour
separateways.
InInthebeginningof2016Imadeapromise
andadecreethatIwasgetingmariedbythe
endoftheyear. IjustknewthatGODwas
goingtosendmemywifeandweweregoing
togetmariedandthat'stheendofit. SoI
startedtelingpeoplethatthisisdefinitely
theyear. Iendedupmeetingayounglady
ininthemiddleofthatyearandIthought
"YES!IthinkIfoundtheone." Shewasthe
IDEALpersonandpeopleontheoutside
lookinginwouldsay"man,theylooklikethe
PERFECTcouple"andbecauseIgrewupin
church,itwasportrayedandhighlysuggestedthatyoushouldmaryyourselfa
"CHURCHGIRL."
ButasIgrewupIfoundoutthatgoingto
CHURCHdoesnotmeanyouhaveareal
RELATIONSHIPwithGOD. Uhoh .I'm
notgoingtostartpreaching,Lol.
Soanyway,whileIwastalkingtotheyoung
lady,IwasalsopreparingformyfirstGospel
ConcertthatIwashostingon Friday,
October21st2016. Iinvitedsomany
peopleandwasworkingsohardtowardsthe
eventandsuddenly,inthemidstofme
workinghard,theyoungladycompletely
stoppedtalkingtomethreeweekspriorto
theconcert. Boy,hadInotbeensavedI
mighthavefalenapart,butnowIcantruly
blestheyoungladyandthankherfor
leaving.InowrecognizeTheHandofGOD
makingroomfortherevealingofHISanswer
tomyprayersformywifewhowouldsoon
bebewalkingthroughthedoor.ItwasHEwho
madesurethattherewerenodistractions,
mixedemotionsoratachmentsandthatthe
placeinmyheartreservedformywifewas
sweptcleanandreadyforocupancy.GOD
doesALLthingswelandIN everything
we'retogiveHim thanks,soIthankyou
HolyGhostforkeepingmethroughthatsituation!
Soanyway,Iwaslike"youknowwhatGOD,
it'salgood,I'mjustgoingtomoveonand
focuscompletelyonthisconcert."Mathew
6:33says"Butseekyefirstthekingdomof
GODandHisrighteousnes;andalthese
thingsshalbeaddeduntoyou." WhenI
startedworkingonGOD'sbusines,Ifound
outthatHewasALREADY workingon
mine. IfelinlovewithherTHATNIGHT.
WhenItelyoushewassooobeautiful!She
realyshockedme! Eventhoughwetalked
previouslyviaFacebook,Ididnotknowthat
shewasgoingtoactualycome.Soduringthe
concertIgotonthemicandgavemyfuture
wifeapersonalshoutout,(ifaman/woman
isashamedtoacknowledgeyouinfrontofa
crowd,thenyoumightwanttochecksomething)uhoh,IpromiseI'm
notgoingto
preach.lol,butanyway,meandKimended
uptalkingmoreandmoreeachdaybuilding
afriendshipandbondthatcouldn'tbe
broken,untilweendedupfalingintemptation.We
had a bond,but it wasn't
PROPERLY bonded.Yes, we definitely
FELL.I'm notashamedtotelit,because
whatgoodisyourtestimonyifyoucan'ttel
it? SoconvictionfelonmeandKIM,butI
wastheonewhocaledheronenightand
toldherthatwejusthavetostoptalkingto
eachotherandwecan'tdothisanymore. I
knewthatKimwasheartbrokenandithurt
meknowingthatshewashurt.Sinseparated
usforalitlewhile,butnotforever. We
ceased alconversation forabouttwo
months.
Duringthosetwomonths,Ithoughtshewas
goingtostopcomingtobiblestudy,butthis
chickstilshowedup,Wednesdaynightafter
Wednesdaynight! I'mlike"nowIknow
she'snottryingtoseeJesusthatBAD,"lol.
Afterawhile,Irealizedthatshestopped
woryingaboutmyjackedupselfandshe
ThenonenightatbiblestudyIfeltGOD
telingmetogobackthereandtalktoher
afterchurchbeforeshetrytosprintoutof
there,andIdid. ThatnightIsawaNEW
KIM!Shewashappy,peacefulandhada
glowabouther.Andthatwasthenightthat
GODtoldmethatIwasgoingtomaryher!
EversincethatnightGODhasbeenrealy
blowingourmindsandbondingustogether,
lovingeachother,andthistimewekeptHim
included. I'veneverhadanybodybeatme
givinggiftsforValentine'sDay,neverhad
anybodytelme"let'sgoonafast,"never
hadanybodylovemethewayKim does,
neverhadanybodyloveashardasIlove.
untilnow!NeversayNever!
Manypeopletrytoputalabelorastatistic
onloveandmakeitseemthatyouhaveto
marytheIDEALperson,butthatisNOT
true. Therearealotofidealmariages
endinginIDEALdivorcessoyoujusthaveto
marytheRIGHTpersonforyouandonly
youandGODwilknowthat.IKNOW that
wasrealychasingGOD!Tomethat'soneof
themostatractivethingsyoucando. You
canbefine,goodlooking,havemoney,nice
car,house,butifyoudon'thaveJesusChrist,
thenyouhaveNOTHING.
SoIbegantogetbackprayingandseeking
GODmorewhilewewerestilnotcommunicating.
KimberlyLopes(soontobeGetens)isthe
rightandONLYpersonforme.Sheisbeautiful,smart,unique,imperfect,humble,
sweet,giving,funny,easygoing,andmostof
alshelovesGOD! Ijustwanttotel
somebodythat'sreadingthis,thatnomater
whatyoudidinyourpast,whetheritwas
today,yesterday,threeyearsago.thereis
NO situationorproblem tooBIGformy
GOD !
Whenamanfindethawifehefindethagood
thing,KimberlyGetensyouaremyGOOD
THING!Iwilloveyouforever!Thankyou
forlovingme!
3 4

WetheParents&GODParents
ProudlyAnnouncetheEngagementofourchildren
KIMBERLY&DONALD
“Commited,Dedicated&Loyal.
WithaforeverLOVEtheywilsay“Ido”in2017
inROYALfashion."
WithLove&Prayers,
BevLopes&RobertKingston|Bride'sParents
Donte&PamelaGeten |Groom'sParents
Tyrone&FrancesWoodside|GODParents
7 8

JoshuaAlenSr.:Thisguyrighthereisoneofthemost
upbeatandfunniestguysIknow.SinceIhaveknownhim,he
hasalwaysbeenonfireforGOD.Theanointingonhislifeis
incredibleandIknowthatGODspeaksthroughhim.Ilove
thefactthathealwaysgavemegreatadviceregardingmy
spiritualwalkwithChrist.Hislifeandgrowththroughthe
yearshasbeenveryinspiringandIampleasedtocalhimmy
brbrother.
TomysisterinChristChristinaAlen:Youare
themostexcitedofthemalandIloveit.Yourexcitement
andyourjoyinTheLordiscontagious.Iremember
duringourwomen'smonthatbiblestudywhenweplayed
thegameaboutthemenandwomenoftheBibleandyou
nailit.Everypersontheydescribedyouknewandthat
inspiredme.IgotexcitedbecauseatthatmomentIknewIhadsomeworkto
dotobenearlyasgoodasyou,butIwasreadyforit.Youhavebeensuchan
inspirationtomeandyougivemesomuchmotivationespecialywhenit
comestoowningyourownbusines.I'msoproudofyouandalyoursacomplishmentsthusfarwith“QueensShoeCloset”andIcan'twaittoseeyou
achieveyourfutureendeavors,notjustwithyourbusines,butalsointhe
ministry,tagteamingwithyourhusband.thankyouforbeingyou!
DavidAlen:FromthetimeIfirstmetmybroDavidI
knewthathewouldbeagreatfriend.Wemetinhigh
schoolandfromthereonwebecamethebestoffriends.
Thisguybasicalypushedmetowantmoreandbeter
myselfdaybyday.Ourdriveandpasionformusicrealy
broughtourfriendshipcloserovertheyearsandbasicaly
everythingI'velearnedinthemusicarenacamefromhim.
Wehadourmomentsanddidsomecrazythingstogether.But,overalhehas
benagreatbestfriendandasolidoveralguy!
JoshuaAlenJr.akaprophet,isDJ'sGodson/-
nephew.Heistheyoungestand'baddest'drummerin
Florida.Heactualyearnedthetitlebecauseofhisdedicationandhardwork.
Heistrulyafavoriteanda
blesing
MalachiLopes:ThisyoungPrinceistheelderofour
twinsandisalreadyabalerbeyondhisagegroup.He'lbe
playingfootbalthisseasonaswel.Toknowhimistolove
him.Beingraisedamongmusicians,basketbalcoachesand
preachers,I'dsaythattheyaredestainedtobeGREAT!
I'lgiveyouonegueswhotheircoachesare.That'sright,
youguesedit!
MacaiahLopes:ThishandsomeyoungPrinceisthe
youngerofourtwinboysandisagreatdancerandabaler
andisnowintosoceraswel.Beingraisedamongmusicians,basketbalcoachesandpreachers,I'dsaythattheyare
destainedtobeGREAT!I'lgiveyouthreegueseswho
theircoachesare.That'sright,youguesedit!
ZaylaGrayes:youngestdaughteroftheGrayes
family.SheissuchaSweetheartandasyoucansee,she's
readyfortherunwaysofParis.Thatsmilewilgetyou
everytimeandyes,she'sflawles.
RakeemRaggs:Wemetafterourhighschoolgraduation,andsincethenRakeemhasbeenagreatfriendand
brothertome.Weactualyhadafalingoutanddidn't
speaktoeachotherforabout2yearsbecauseofadisagreement.Butonedayweranintoeachotherandsquashed
everythingwhichmadeourfriendshipevencloser.IfI
needhelporafavor,Iknowhealwayshasmybacknomaterwhatitis.He
hasarealhumblespiritabouthimandrealyistryingtobeterhislifeand
salutehimforthat!
CecilShawJr.:Ifyoueverwantedtomeetthenicest
guy,thenyoujustmethim.EverytimeIseemybigbrother
healwaysbearhugme,andheknowshe'stoobigforthat,
lol.Buthonestly,heisthemostlovingandcaringguyI
know.Onethingabouthimisthathehasalwaysbeenthe
samepersonfromthedayImethimupuntilnow.IappreciatetheconsistencythathebringstothetableandIknow
ththathewilcontinuetogofarinlife.
BobbyGrayesJr.:Thisguyrightherehasalwaysbeen
arolemodelinmylifeeversinceIjoinedmychurch.I
neverinmylifemetaguywhoworksashardashedoesto
makesurehisfamilyistakencareof.Heisalivingexample
ofaprovider,father,andhusband. Itriedmyhardestto
getbackinthegymwithhim,butthewayhisworkout
planissetup,thatdidn'tworklol.ButIwant
tothankBobbyforeverythinghehasdoneformeandIappreciatehimfrom
thebotomofmyheart.
JulianSarvis:WhenItelyouIlovethisguywithALL
myheart.Notjustbecauseheismybiologicalbrother,but
because,ifithadnotbeenforhimIwouldn'thavemadeit
thisfarinlife.Whenwewerekidsandeventothisday,he
alwaystelsmeheisproudofmeandkeeppushing.But
nowIwanttopubliclytelhim“IamproudofyouandI
loveyoubigbro”.Thankyoufornevergiving
uponmeandbelievinginme.Icouldn'thaveaskedforabeterbigbrother!
JoelWoodside:Inschooleverydayatlunchthisguy
fromNewYorkusedtoalwaysaskme"Yo,yougonedrink
thatmilk"?lol.ButJoelhasalwaysbeenarealcoolguy
andfriendinhighschool.Onethingabouthimisthathe
alwayswashimself,hedidn'ttrytodowhateverybody
didjusttofitin.Hehadhisownstyleandstucktoit.So
IsalutehimforthatandIjustwanttosay
keeppushingandstrivingandGODwiltakeyoutherestofthewaybro!
KennethWright~BestMan:WhenIfirstjoinedthechurchthisguytookmeonlikeabigbrotherandrealykeptit100%honest
withmeataltimes.IfIdidsomethingrighthetoldme“goodjob”,andifitwaswronghetoldmeto“tightenupbra,andgetittogether”.I
respectthismantothehighestandifitwasn'tforhimbeingonmyside,Iwouldn'tbethemanIamtoday.Tothisday,heisalwaysgivingme
adviceonhowtobetermyselfspiritualy,mentaly,andfinancialy.IcanrememberthetimeswhenIdidn'thaveacarandIneededarideto
chur
church,hewasalwayswilingtopickmeupandneveraskedforgasmoney.Ihaveseenhimgothroughthegoodtimesandbadtimes,andI
admirehiscomposureandpositiveatitudethathemaintainsthroughital.Onethinghetaughtmethatwilalwaysstickwithmeistolove
GODforrealanddon'tputonafrontforanyone!
Onethingisforsure,youneverjudgedmeformydecisionandsomeofthedumbchoicesImadeinlife.You’vealwayshadmybackrightorwrong.
I'msoproudofyoursucesasacoachandAsistantcoachontheWinterhavencoachingstaf.Younotonlywerepartofourstatechampionshipgame,
winingstateandearningaring,butnowyouhave2morestatechampionshipringstoaddtoyourcolectionasacoach.Let'snotforgetyouareagreat
teacher,coachandmentortotheyounggirlsinhighschoolandyouareanamazingbasketbaltrainer. IloveyousooooooooomuchandIgladGod
grantedmeasisterlikeyou.
TomyBestfriendMechelaWard: You
havebeenmyridersincethedayItouchdownon
Floridasoil.Weinstantlyconnectedandeveryone
sworeweweresisters,lol. Weplannedoutand
dresedliketwinswheneverwecould,evendownto
ouracesories. YouweremyfeistyfriendthatI
loveandpeopleknewnottomeswithyoubecause
TomyBFFLDomoniqueWats.What'sfunny
waswemetonedayinthesummerwhenmeandmy
siblingswereatmydad’sandyouandyourfamwereat
yournanashouseandalthekidsontheblockusedto
comeoutatnightandplayhideandgoseekandman
hunt.Itwasatonofus,thenonmyfirstdayofelementaryschool,thereyouwereandmydaybecame
easybecauseIalreadyhadonefriendandthatwasyou. Youwerethat
bosy,butsweetfriend.Onedayyouweremeanandthenextdayyou
werebuyingmegifts.WeevenfoughtonedayandIdidn'tknowwhatto
thinkaboutyou,butthegoodalwaysoutweighedthebadandwehave
alwayskeptintouchasyearspast.TheFranklin5crew(Jahi,Sabra,Fred,
Domo,andmyself)havealwaysstucktogethersinceelementary,andI
thankGodthatourfriendshipisstilstrongtothisday.IloveyouDW.
TomybigsisterinChristKarenGraye:I
rememberthefirstdayIsteppedinthechurchI
thoughtIcouldhideinthebackofthechurchinthe
cornerandhereyoucomegreetingandwelcoming
measifIwasafamilymemberyouhadnotseenina
longtime… Ilovedit.Youspokewithmeandtryto
getmetomoveclosertothefrontandmebeingso
shywaslike“no,I'lstayintheback”lol.Thenightendedwhereshetoolike
myhusbandgavemeashoutoutandannouncedmeasavisitortothe
church.Wespokemanytimesandmyheartinstantlyconnectedwithyours,
becauseyou’vebeenthroughsomethingsinyourlifetime,butGodstilused
youandyouareamightywomanofGodtoday.Youprayedwithme,ministeredtomeandyoumentoredme.IrememberwhenIwastalkingDonald
(DJ)afterchurchandyouwalkeduptousgivingustheeye,smilinglike
“wh
“what'sgoingonoverhere”.YouweresoexcitedseeingusattheGalabal
andyougaveussooomanycomplimentsandwhisperedtome“wel,make
sureI'myourbridesmaid”andIkeptmypromise…lol.Iappreciateyoufor
welcomingmewithopenarmsandlovingmeasIam… forseeinggreatnes
inmeandspeakinglifeintomeandlovingmeasyournewsister,thankyou!
TomysisterinChristTifanyWright-Shaw:
Iremembermyfirstdayseeingyouattheconcert.You
werethehostandpartofthepraiseandworshipteam
andyouwassoooalive. Ilovedyourenergyandyour
fireforChrist.Ispoketoyouafterandcomplimented
youonhowwelyoudid.YouinreturninvitedmetochurchandIsaidmaybe
onedayIwilreturn. Ididreturnandyouwelcomedmewithopenarms.
ThethingIlovemostaboutyouistheanointingthatisevidentuponyourlife
whenyoupreachandsing,youareamazing.Whenyouopenyourmouth,the
entirechurchisblownawayandmovedbytheHolySpirit.Italsoexcitedme
toseeanothersportsmomlikemyselfcheeringatourkidsbasketbalgame.
DJhasalwayscaledyouhisbigsisandI'mhappythatInowhavethepleasure
ofdoingthesam
ofdoingthesame.
youwerenotafraidtospeakyourmindorholdyourtonguewhetheryour
batlesormi,butletsomeonemeswithmeoreventhinkaboutmesing
withme,youwerealwaysreadytogivethemhelaboutme.Youweremy
frontlinesoldier,mybeefwasyourbeefandifnecesary,shehadasquadof
cousinsthatwerealwaysreadyforwarandIlovedit.Sisyouareoneofthe
mostloyalfriendsIhaveevermet.Youwasmyclubpartnerandeverytime
westeppedoutweshowedout.Iloveyouandeventhouwedon'tparty
ananymorelikeweusedto,justknowmeandyouwilforeverbethetwo
talest,hotestthingsinthebuilding.Iloveyouandthankyouforalways
beingthereformethroughthegoodandthebad.
Mikayla Lopes:ThisBeautifulPrincesisour
daughter,akaKayla,akaKK,akaMisThang.Loveher
likelifeitself.Beingraisedamongmusicians,basketbal
coachesandpreachers,I'dsaythatsheisdestainedtobe
GREAT!
TomysisterinChristTifanySmith: Every
timeIseeyouthereisusualyasmileonyourface.You
andyourmomareliketwinsthewayyoudresupevery
Sundayandthosethreebeautifuldaughtersofyoursare
alwaysprimpedanddoledup… Iloveit. Yourspirits
arealwayshighandyouarealwaystryingtoimprove
yourselfineverywayandthat’sadmirable.Whenaskedtobemy
bridesmaid,youshowedsomuchexcitementandappreciationandthat
mademefeelsohonored.Iappreciateyouforbeingmygirlonmy
specialday.
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