So how did we meet? It was 1993 on the campus of Rust College. I was a freshman, and she was going into her junior year. I remember seeing her for the very first time in front of the cafeteria with her friends. She had on overalls and a multi-colored shirt, but the thing that got my attention was her gorgeous smile and her short, “Halle Berry” hairstyle, as I like to call it. It was a while before we spoke for the very first time. Although we didn’t hang out together, I would sometimes hang out with a couple of her friends. When we did see each other, we always spoke to one another albeit it was very brief. I only told one person that I had a crush on her back in college, but I never exactly told her. I never saw her again until 2017.
By now we both had been living our grown lives. John in Dallas, Texas and me in Memphis, TN. It was Homecoming 2017 at Rust College, and we ran into each other. We immediately exchanged hugs and had great conversations just laughing and talking. I was in the beginning stages of planning a move to Dallas. I knew he had been in Dallas a while so I needed some information and advice on how me and Kamari could make this move. We exchanged numbers and kept in touch just as friends/family from college. He coached me every step of the way and on January 1, 2019, Kamari and I moved to Dallas, Texas on our new journey.
John: Our first time seeing each other after 2017 Homecoming, was at my fraternity’s tailgate weekend at our fraternity house in Dallas. We always laugh because I invited her and gave her the meetup time and yet, I was the one that was over an hour late. I tried to make sure that she was well taken care of because this was my college crush and my Rust College family and friend. I made sure she had something to drink, something to eat and wanted to make sure that she had a great time.
Kenya: So now backing this story up just a lil bit…While at the block party, there was music, food and a lot of DRINKS to go around. We all had our fair share, and we were all feeling good. So, you know how they say liquor will make you tell the truth and give you courage (liquid courage) that you wouldn’t have, well John found his that day. He told me how he always had a crush on me in college and always wanted to ask me out back then. A little over 20 years later, he finally asked for that date, I knew it was the liquor talking so I told him to ask me again when he hadn’t been drinking. About two days later, I received a text asking me out on that date along with the date, the time and location for our reservation.
John: I called to make reservations at Del Frisco’s Steakhouse in Downtown Dallas. I made sure that the restaurant had arranged for a single, red rose to be placed on the table. I was trying to make a big impression on her, but to my surprise she was making a HUGE impression on me. She looked simply gorgeous. My birthday was just the week prior to our first date so when she came in with a card and birthday gift which I was not expecting.
Kenya: When he walked in, the look that he gave me had me a little confused. I wasn’t sure if he liked what he saw or did I misunderstand the assignment and wasn’t dressed cute enough. Later, I found out that that look meant I was more than he could imagine (his words).
We laughed, talked, had a couple glasses of wine, ate and simply enjoyed each other’s company. After eating, we went outside and continued talking. The night was amazing and neither one of us wanted it to end. After dinner, we found a nice little spot right outside with a nice fire pit. That night we laughed, talked and shared a lot of kisses until early in the am………it was hours yall!!!
John: It was simply the “PERFECT FIRST DATE” for US! I talked to her on the way home and made sure that she got home safely. When she made it home safely, we said our goodnights to one another and hung up the phone.
Kenya: After that first date, I found myself thinking about him all day and how much I enjoyed our time together. I quickly realized this was only the beginning...
John: Spending so much time together and getting to know one another was amazing! I had the pleasure of getting to know her son, Kamari, and she in turn got to know my sons, Damone, Trevon, and Tahj. We began going out more, traveling more and just being together. Endless conversations turned our friendship into a true love story that will last forever.
I remember taking Kamari out to eat one day and then asking him what he thought about me marrying his mom. He is super smart and very intelligent. After we had a great conversation, he said that he would be very happy if I asked his mom to marry me. So, he gave me his blessing.
Next, I remember calling her dad, Frank Ball, and asking him for his daughter’s hand in marriage. Saying it only the way he can say it, he asked “are you sure you are ready for that?” And after assuring him of just how much I loved his daughter and Kamari, he gave me his blessing.
I had a conversation with my sons to see how they felt about their dad marrying Juakenya. They each asked their questions, but more importantly, they just wanted to know if I was happy. I told them that I was very happy and that she makes me very happy. After assuring them of that, they each gave their blessings and stated just how happy and excited they were for the both of us.
December 11th: For my 50th birthday weekend, he planned dinner and drinks with friends in Dallas, a family fun day with the boys and an early morning church service.
Kenya, Kamari and I attended church on that Sunday morning. After church, we got out of our church clothes and got into our Cowboys clothing and I took her to the Cowboys game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. We were on pin and needles watching the game, but the Cowboys came back to win the game at the end, so we were ECSTATIC!!! All that was left at that point was to cap it off with the proposal.
Kenya: After the game we went home to change clothes and headed to where it first started. Same restaurant, same table, same vibe as with our first date. This time after dinner, the conversation went a little different. John told me how much he loved me and Kamari and that he wanted to do “FOREVER” with us. He got down on one knee and asked me to marry him, and I said YES!!!
John: Del Frisco’s Restaurant where it all began... I arranged everything where we would sit at the same table as we did on our very first date. Again, we had a great dinner and enjoyed our time together. After dinner we sat outside like on the very first date. We talked about the church that day, the game, how much we loved each other and the future…
It was at that moment, I got on one knee in the very same courtyard in front of the restaurant and asked Juakenya L. Ball, if she would marry me and she said, “YES!!!”
John knows me very well and knew that all the bells and whistles wouldn’t be my thing. In one of our early-on conversations, he asked me how I would describe myself and the wedding of my now dreams. That was easy…simple but memorable, affordable but beautiful, serious but laid back, but most importantly, a lot of fun with all the special people in our lives.
Every story has its very own beginning and very own end. We had to get to know each other and in doing so, we learned a lot about ourselves and what it is that we wanted out of LIFE!!! And what we realized is that we could go on with life and be successful, but LIFE would not be the same without two friends becoming the very BEST of FRIENDS!!! We have each other’s heart and each other’s back!!! Nothing will ever be able to break our bond and nothing can ever separate our love from each other.
The next pictures are some of OUR favorite from the last 4 years! Trips to Jamaica, new Restaurants in Dallas, our life adventures! We've never stopped dating in all the time we've been together!
