Armani deserves so much more than a Facebook / Blog post, and I think you guys know I will honor him in bigger ways than this but this is an opportunity to speak to people who are holding on deeply to the words of those who love the same person you love. To say Armani was loved by many, would be a drastic understatement. Armani was more than loved. He was respected. He was beyond generous. His heart was present, positive, and pure. His energy was always consistent. He didn’t have bad days and if he did he didn’t treat you like he did. He loved a good vibe and an even better memory. His handshakes were always on point. And his hugs made you feel good about yourself.

When I think of the name Jesus I think of the name Armani. They have the same ring to it; at least they do in my heart. I fell in love with Jesus deeper than ever before in April of this year, and I immediately reached out to Armani to tell him about The King. He got hyped up with me in the most calming Armani way, and began to read the book I was so over the moon about with his amazing fiancee Kelly. He told me how much he enjoyed reading it, understanding it, and he told me I helped him open his eyes more to who Jesus really was. My heart exploded with Joy as our journeys in faith were meeting on the same road. I invited them both on my podcast I do about Jesus and I got to see for myself the growth and future we were all going to have together. We decided to call the episode “Come back to Jesus!” Little did I know, a few weeks later that’s exactly what he was going to do.

Armani was my best friend. My brother. A God father figure to Noah. He is my family. My forever friend. I only have a few of those… He was one of them and my forever friends also saw him as their forever friend. Knowing where Armani is going now and where my other friends are going too, means he is legitimately our forever friend, in the wonderful kingdom of God. I am hurting. I am dealing with a real death for the first time in my adult life. I can’t hide from it like I want to. My heart is broken. I lost my best friend but I truly find so much serenity in knowing he is with Jesus in heaven right now. When I am alone reading about Jesus, writing about Him, or anything else that gets me in the presence of the Lord that is the maximum peace I’ve ever experienced and the great news is, He promises us so much more.

Knowing my brother Armani when here on earth had the spirit of wisdom, the spirit of revelation, the spirit of understanding to know and love Jesus makes my heart feel okay about this tragedy. Not only did he know and believe, he told and he showed people. I got proof of his faith when one of the last things he text me was “Sending prayers for you bro during this weekend with Malachi! Love you man have a great one” He messaged me at 9 am on Friday morning. Which I believe in my heart means he woke up that day and decided to listen to my latest podcast while he was on vacation. What a beautiful friend I had. On vacation with his fiancée he was thinking about me. Thinking about Jesus. Thinking about my family. Praying for us. Praying for me. I then told him I miss him, and I’ll be down in January to see him. He told me he misses me too and we will def link up…

I miss my friend. So many of you do as well. Armani left such an impact in my heart and so many hearts that he touched. I can tell you about the man Armani all day. I can tell you how we became close friends, met each others families, and did life together for years. I can share with you how he loved me and Noah enough to live with us when I was 21 years old. I can share memories of us all playing in our backyard, living room, and soccer fields. I can show you all the gifts he got Noah and the love he showed him as we spent two years in the same house together. I can show you the parties we threw and everyone came and showed love. I can show you pictures from our two vacations we took together, pictures of us at my wedding, and pictures of each other holding each others babies.

I can tell you the day he told me his mom had breast cancer at work right by the outback service bar. I can tell you the joy in his voice the day he told me she beat it. I can tell you about the conversation and the hugs we shared when he told me he was going to be a dad for the first time on the other side of that outback service bar at table 42. I’ve never been so excited for someone to become a parent. We rejoiced and just had the best dinner together at the very place him and I first met.

I can tell you about the man Armani all day… Yet he’d want me to tell you about Jesus. He’d want people to find out about who He is and what He did for us. When I think of Armani I think of Jesus. I hope that inspires you to open up your Bible with a pen and a journal, I encourage you to listen to I like Birds, find a good church, talk to your friends about God, and do anything you can to get your faith in line with truth. Armani has the 100 emoji next to his name in my phone, because he always kept it real, good, and pure. The realest dude I know and I’m so honored to have been his best friend and a fellow brother in Christ. Love your people well, so you have no regrets when they pass away. I luckily don’t feel any. I feel grateful I got to spend 7 years with a man that was so loved by so many. I am saddened to think about how Kelly was supposed to be a bride. Paco and Deysy being a proud parent. George, Myself, Chirs, and a few others were supposed to be groomsmen. Now we have to be bodies to hug and strong in faith for others. We didn’t say yes to stand up there with him for a ceremony, we said yes to stand up with him for life. I will do everything in my power to keep Armanis name alive and his family taken care of and loved. I’m so happy Armani has left a little piece of him in this world in Gigi. You should have seen him and Kellys face at the gender reveal, indescribable.

She will live on with her Dads loving DNA and I can’t wait to see the woman she grows up to be. I wish Malachi would have known Armani better. Noah and I will fill him in as the years go on. I wish so many things. I find peace in Jesus. His love is unmatched. He will get us all through this together. He has a plan for this and as you can tell Armani was welcomed in heaven with open arms.

I’m sure I will have more to say about this passing on the next episode of I Like Birds Podcast…a show Armani was so hype about for me. He’s always been so encouraging, proud, and loving on my life journeys. This one hit different though. He was all in it with me. Before he left for vacation on September 22nd he asked me for I like Birds magnets for his fridge. A couple weeks before that he sent me a picture of his old bible he had since 7th grade and he told me he was looking to get plugged into a small group mens bible study. He was seeking the Lord and you can’t tell me that’s not for a reason. Do I have a full understanding of this? NO… But I do know where my friend is going and who he is with right now. Do I wish he was here? Every second I do, but I know he’s not only resting in peace, I know he’s resting in paradise. This dude Mani loved sleep and even more he loved crazy dope vibes. Tell me Armanis not VIBIN in heaven right now dude… You can’t do it. Because he is with Jesus. Let’s all start Vibin with Jesus. I love you Armani Alicea