Jake and Makennah went to Panhandle High School together all 4 years. Jake moved back to Panhandle at the end of his 8th grade year, and Makennah had lived there since 2012. Their paths crossed the beginning of Jake’s Freshmen Year and the beginning of Makennah’s Sophomore Year. Makennah was putting Christmas lights up on a chilly November afternoon, and Jake happened to be walking down the street across from her house. Makennah called out from her roof “Hey Jake! Want to help us with the lights?” Jake, not even knowing her name at the time, replied, “Sure.” Makennah told him the way through her house and up to her roof, and Jake walked through this strangers house and got on her roof and finished helping her hang lights. They took their first picture together that night. 

Nothing more ever came from that first interaction. They started going to the same church, The River, and wound up on the worship team together. Jake played drums and Makennah sang. They made jokes in passing, and had a conversation here and there, but again, nothing ever came of their interactions. “Just friends” they thought. 

Makennah gave Jake a ride home from a friend’s graduation party at the end of her Junior year and his Sophomore Year. It was a giant slip‘n slide party so they were both in swim suits, and had stopped to get drinks on the way home. Jake bought Makennah’s drink “out of courtesy.” Mhmm. They had the radio off and talked the entire drive home. After dropping Jake off, Makennah went to pull away from his house, but he had “forgot” his drink in her car, so she texted him and he ran back out to grab it. Before shutting the car door he flashed one of his dimply little grins. 

Fast forward to the middle of the first semester of their Junior and Senior year of high school. Jake was hosting a Bible study in his mom’s classroom and was running a little late cause he had to come from the football field for band. He rushed into the classroom and asked who would like to read the verses for today, and Makennah volunteered. As Jake spoke he flowed into the topic of relationships. “You have to have a good relationship with God before he will give you a relationship through him” said Jake. He then made eye contact with Makennah, who in turn flashed him a smile. Jake blushed hard and said, “I have to sit down.” Makennah, being clueless, thought he was still out of breath from running to the classroom from the football field. Later that night, after youth group, Jake and Makennah had returned to their homes. Makennah received text, “I feel like whether you know it or not you are a near perfect example of a Godly woman. There is an aura around you that is just straight up Godly. In all honesty I think you are one of the best examples of faith through Christ and living in his word.” 

Makennah took a second to respond, as she was caught very off guard. That compliment meant the world to her. They messaged each other all night talking about the most random things to keep the conversation going. Then they messaged the next day, then the next, then the next. They would share smiles in the halls, and soon headed to the same state band competition. Makennah went to go watch her younger sister, Ellie (yeah, right.) and Jake played quads for the band. They messaged all throughout the State trip, and after the competition they took their second ever picture together. On the ride home, Jake messaged Makennah asking if she had plans for Saturday. She didn’t, and as it happened neither did he. “Would you want to grab lunch? Maybe sushi?” He asked. “I’d love to.” As they told their friends and family about their plans they got corrected over and over “So it’s a date?” And would reply “No just getting food.” And they would be corrected “It’s definitely a date.”

On the way to their not a date, they had the music off, and just talked. At the sushi place, they just talked… until Jake got a nose bleed “fighting a robber,” but no worries he won the “fight” ;). Afterwards they weren’t quite ready to go home yet, so they walked on over to tractor supply (cause that’s all they have in good ole Pampa, TX), but not before Jake grabbed his Jacket for Makennah out of the car. In Tractor supply, they are walking and talking about nothing and everything, and Jake gets another nose bleed (stupid robber). So he gets cleaned up and they keep walking and talking. They stop by the grilling pellets and are just leaned up against them talking when, you guessed it, ANOTHER nose bleed. But no worries, there won’t be anymore. When the store starts closing they finally decide to make their way home. They drive home with the radio off, talking the whole way home. 

When they arrive to Makennah’s house, Jake comes inside and chats with her and her parents for another 2 hours. When the time hits 11, Makennah’s mom decides Jake should probably head home so he doesn’t get in too much trouble. Makennah walks Jake out to his car to say goodbye, and they decided to make it official that night. And that was the beginning of forever for those two kids :).