Our Love Story

It all began back in 2008 at the school district’s annual Back to School Bash. I noticed Jeff as he received the Lamar Dodd Excellence in Teaching Award. I couldn’t help but nudge my friend and whisper, “Who is that? He is CUTE!” Little did I know that this moment would spark a connection that would weave through the years.

With the help of my friend, we began to date, but the timing just wasn’t right. We parted ways amicably, but our friendship remained strong, and we cherished the bond we had formed.

Fast forward nine years—like moths to a flame, our love for each other became undeniable. We decided to give our relationship another shot, knowing deep down that we were meant to be. However, life had its challenges, and once again, the timing wasn’t on our side. Despite the obstacles we faced, we had both grown tremendously and learned to navigate life’s storms together as friends who shared a deep, unwavering love.

Over the years, we weathered pandemics, illness, job changes, and the complexities of parenting young adults. By 2023, our friendship had blossomed, and the pull between us was stronger than ever. We decided to embrace this connection and move forward with purpose, knowing exactly what we wanted: each other.

Our love is a deep and burning flame, and we feel incredibly blessed to have waited for the timing to be just right. True love is worth the wait, and we can’t wait to celebrate this next chapter of our lives together.

The year 2008 would prove to be full of surprises. I had no idea that upon attending the Clarke County School District’s annual Back to School Bash that I would be the recipient of the Lamar Dodd Excellence in Teaching Award. Nor did I know that walking across the stage would ultimately lead to me finding my soulmate.

One of my high school classmates told me that a teacher in the district was interested in me. After receiving the news, I immediately began using my investigative skills and found out that the young lady taught at the same school my son was attending. During the open house event at Alps Road Elementary School, I used this opportunity to sneak a peak into Ms. Washington’s classroom. All I could think of were the words of Johnny Gill…..”My My My.”

We began dating in 2008. Unfortunately, the relationship did not work out at the time. However, we remained close friends afterwards. Years later, we attempted to give our relationship another try. Once again, the timing was not right. We had both matured, but we were still not quite where we needed to be. Nevertheless, our friendship and love continued to grow.

Throughout the past sixteen years, we have stood the rain like New Edition and finally realized that We Belong Together like Mariah Carey. Jami and I have decided to work together to make the ultimate love story: It’s a J & J Production.

I have often heard the phrase, if you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans. He has been developing this story since 2008. Like everything else in life, it’s all about His timing; not ours. We are truly excited about spending the rest of our lives together.