The first time we saw each other was at the Baltimore airport. You see, we actually met on Instagram. We were both bodybuilders and fitness coaches at the time and used the app to find new clients. I was going through some difficult drama in my life and Joey was finishing up seven years of service in the Air Force and was looking for his next career move. It didn’t take us long to start talking.

We were amazed by the numerous coincidences that connected us, despite growing up on opposite ends of the country. One of the sweetest connections we discovered revolved around the symbol of roses in our lives. In fact, my middle name, Rose, is also a name used in his family.

In the midst of a night of distress I reached out to Joey. He was in the middle of purchasing a new truck, but stopped everything he was doing to comfort me. I later got a text that said “If it takes a plane ticket to make you feel better, I will buy twenty.” Well it only took one. A few days later I flew to Baltimore. Joey picked me up at the airport in his new blue truck, affectionately named Rose.

A short time after, he had to make a decision on where to move, as it was time to end his military service and leave Baltimore. He was about to move back to Missouri but I asked him to take a leap of faith and move to Georgia. He did!