Growing up as a military child, I lived throughout the south, and graduated from high school in Keflavik, Iceland. Each summer I returned to Atlanta, Georgia to visit my family. During the summer of 2003, I met James at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church at mass choir rehearsal. He often says that I was VERY late to rehearsal, but I do not recall being tardy! We immediately became friends. James and I have strong personalities, so we developed an active “love-hate relationship.” At the end of the summer,  I returned to Keflavik, Iceland. We did not have any contact with each for the next two years. In the summer of 2005, we reconnected just as James was preparing to preach his initial sermon at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church.

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I was unable to attend the first service, but I promised him that I’d come to his first message following the initial sermon. Little did I know that the service would be at 7:45AM! After service, I remember greeting him, and then quickly leaving. It was at this moment that I realized my feelings for James were deeper, than just a friend. I however, did not say anything to him about how I felt. At the end of the summer I returned to Nashville, TN. For homecoming I invited James to come to Nashville to get a break from the everyday hustle and bustle. James arrived at my dormitory before me, THIS TIME I was running late. During the weekend, we enjoyed the homecoming festivities, worshipped at Mount Zion Baptist Church, and had dinner at Carrabba's Italian Grill. Over the next few weeks James and I continued to converse. On November 8, James asked me to be his girlfriend. I did not give him an immediate response, but saying yes eight years ago was one of the best decisions I ever made.



-Amanda