They say GOD works in mysterious ways & David & Shonta's Love Story is one of GOD's ways of fully displaying HIS mystery of abundant Grace, Mercy & Faithfulness to HIS children. Who would've known that we attended the same high school together in '96 at Pensacola High, lived a street over from each other in Montclair while in Pensacola & then traveled some 350+ miles to Orange Park to FINALLY find each other in the Oakleaf community after more than 20 years! Hopewell New Members Class found us sitting directly across from one another. David shared he was 'delayed in attending new members class due to his military duty at the Air Force Base and was from Pensacola, so traveled home quite a bit.' Me, being me and excited about the nostalgia of what he shared, I echoed that "I'm aware of that AF Base due to my father's time in the Navy & I'm from Pensacola too." We closed out new member's class & just as we prepared to enter the sanctuary for church service, David shared pics from his brother's wedding that he was in from 4 months earlier. We discovered we knew most of the same people back from high school. David was quite a gentleman in asking for my number to pick up traveling down memory lane after church. We walked to our cars following church service & we discovered by chance, we were parked in front of each other in the church parking lot. Some days later in several 3+ hour long talks, we quickly discovered our chemistry & values for life were magnetic. Our chemistry is electrifying & we both were quietly very intrigued by one another. David joked, let me 'Call my shot, that eventually I'm going to tap out on these long talks'. Homeboy was laying ground for our 'face to face'! Nevertheless, we were extremely cautious in how we navigated our journey. We took our time in building a secure friendship over the next 4 months. Although, not looking, I found my heart creating a massive space for him, but I wasn't sure how he felt as although he was very kind, generous, gentle and funny; he was also very quiet. As I'd later learn, he is not the typical romantic, & was true to himself as he absolutely did NOT shower me with roses & gifts to draw in my attention as I'd been accustomed to. He was hard to read! However, he was such a kind soul, very mannerable, and gave me freedom that I'd never experienced before him as he told me to just 'be myself' with him, & this further peaked my interest. Even so, I was absolutely NOT going to tell him my feelings. I was inwardly adamant that he chase me & it would be crystal clear to us both, who was chasing who. (The love is real!) I was sure to let him know 'I am a wife and NOT a girlfriend.' Then one night after a beach drive, we sat in my driveway & as I shared how much I enjoyed his friendship & (NO, I was NOT putting him in the friendzone lol)...he abruptly cut me off & told me "Hey listen, I don't need no more friends! I got enough friends!" That's when I knew! He was feeling 'your girl'!! Talk about falling in love! That night we sealed our destiny with him, a true gentleman, walking me to my front door & we shared our very first kiss and a 'Good night.' Oh! But the very NEXT weekend & EVERY weekend following that One, we were inseparable! From both of our moms being sets of identical twins born & raised in Pensacola, to discovering coincidentally we both live in Oakleaf, to the planned birth of Our baby boy following much conversation & intense love...lots of laughter, so many tears, all the joy our hearts can hold, bonding in grief & passport traveling, all inclusive of OUR time invested together in service to OUR kids by the one & only Coach Dave, their basketball, football & cheer, to blending our HUGE family together; we are watching GOD perform a Miracle of Chance for us as we come together in MARRIAGE to minister what 'GOD IS LOVE' truly means. We dedicate our Love Story to both OUR mothers & my father. Annice and Ceola ~David's Momma (Our Angel) & My Daddy, Tony - WE LOVE YOU!