Lawanda was walking through the heavy high school foot-traffic to get to her locker when James stepped in front of her and wouldn't allow her by. He never said anything...Well, she doesn't remember him talking. He just smiled. She was impressed with his teeth and his smile. (With knowing how short she is, a person's mouth is her vantage point which was an important thing for her.) He must have done his due diligence because she remembered him and his smile.
Lawanda had just got off work at the local elementary school where she assisted teachers and students. She was preparing to walk to her grandfather's home when a guy in a canary yellow Cadillac comes pulling into the parking lot. Yep, it was James with that big smile. Through short-talk, they learned that one of the students that she teaches is James' little brother. The sky was cloudy, so James asked Lawanda if she wanted a ride home. Her reply was, "No. I don't know you." He received her answer with a laugh and walked inside the building. Much to her surprise as she neared the corner, the sky opened up and poured out buckets of rain. Only a few minutes later before she can cross the street, a canary yellow Cadillac pulls up in front of her, cracks the window enough only to bellow out, "How about now?" Long story short... she got in the car and told him to drop her off down the street from her grandfather's home so that he doesn't question her about who the guy was that dropped her off. So he did just that.
James handed Wanda a note. It was one of many that they exchanged back and forth. This one asked if she would be his girlfriend. He ended it with "circle Yes or No". You determine what she decided... (You will find out how the story went at the 2024 anniversary. If you know, keep it shhhhhhh.)
Before James went into the Navy, he was certain that he didn't want anyone to catch Lawanda's eye while he was away. So, he decided to get a ring and propose. Lawanda had just started her senior year in high school, when he picked her up from school. As they walked to the vehicle, he stops in one of the breezeways, pulls out the ring, hands it to her, and smoothly says "this is for you... It's a promise ring." Once they got in the vehicle, she asked him if he wasn't going to ask her to marry him. So he did. Yep... super smooth.
James and Wanda has had a fun and adventurous few chapters together with so many more ahead of them. Since their July 20th wedding after high school, they have lived in Virginia, Sicily, Florida, and Texas. They were blessed by God to care for 5 children the best they could. By their anniversary this July, each of their children will be adults. By now, they are seeing the joys of travel, serving communities, and playing with their grandchildren. However, they aren't done yet. Actually, they are just starting the chapters of making a difference. YOU happen to have played a part in their story.