My love has come along!

We met near the end of Jan. 2008, in Kim's first seminary class - Intro to the Hebrew Bible. It was the start of Jennifer's 2nd semester, so she was a little further along. Dr. Valerie Bridgeman was our professor and leader on this new journey. (We would take a class with her again 2009 Spring Term and she holds a special place in our hearts for these times in our lives). Jennifer, an excellent student, sat near the front of the class - Kim, completely new and not knowing many people, tried to hide in the back. Jennifer rushed off right after class, while Kim was often talking to the professor or other students. It took a while - both shy with new people - to get to know one another. Over the summer, Nedra, a mutual friend helped our friendship grow. In the fall we had classes together and found one another easy to talk to. Favorite lunches at Memphis Pizza Cafe, Central BBQ, and Outback. Dinners out with mashed potatoes for comfort food weekly. <3 Jennifer and Kim grew close having many conversations. That's the basis of this love story – friendship, love, communication and similar thoughts/beliefs/hopes from things likes interpreting the Bible to the best college football teams and the best BBQ in Memphis! (Feasting the Word, Ole Miss/Alabama, and Central).

Over the sweet years, we have worked together in churches, group homes and places of hospitality to serve others. We make time for one another and support each others passions. Jennifer enjoys documentaries and making art. Kim likes bath bombs and a good story. Together though, we binge watch who-dun-it mysteries, cheesy romances and every L&O franchise. We also watch medical dramas in hopes that one day, they will call in the chaplain for a crisis. Kim will talk to people in line at the grocery store, Jennifer will hide and hope we get to go home soon. Sometimes Kim also volunteers us for things, and sometimes she forgets to let Jennifer know. It is ok though - surprises make life exciting. No matter what, we keep doing these things together and supporting one another.

Our move to Atlanta brought new challenges and new connections. We traveled back to Tupelo, Clay and Memphis to see family, and to see chosen family as well. We traveled to conferences in Long Beach and Monterey, California. We went to NYC, St. Thomas/St. Martin, and more beaches just for fun. We were frequent travelers to Nashville, later to Chattanooga, and then we found our favorite (mountain) spot, Asheville, NC. We missed our families so much, sometimes it was hard to make a community here. We met Praxis and later merged with Decatur UCC. We tried new things. We learned, we failed, we tried something else - all together - and we grew. And, so as Parker Palmer writes in his book "Let Your Life Speak" (which Jennifer read long before Kim finally did) about his conversation with a Quaker woman Ruth, about Way: "...After a few months of deepening frustration, I took my troubles to an older Quaker woman well-known for her thoughtfulness and candor. ‘Ruth,’ I said, ‘people keep telling me that “way will open.” Well, I sit in the silence, I pray, I listen for my calling, but way is not opening. I’ve been trying to find my vocation for a long time, and I still don’t have the foggiest idea of what I’m meant to do. Way may open for other people, but it’s sure not opening for me.’ Ruth’s reply was a model of Quaker plain-speaking: ‘I’m a birthright Friend,’ she said somberly, ‘and in sixty-plus year of living, way has never opened in front of me.’ She paused, and I started sinking into despair. Was this wise woman telling me that the Quaker concept of guidance was a hoax? Then she spoke again, this time with a grin: ‘But a lot of way has closed behind me, and that’s had the same guiding effect.’"

A few years ago we joined Kirkwood United Church of Christ. This was after visiting sporadically for a couple of years due to work, travel, adjusting to other communities we had been a part of closing and some family members illnesses. In late 2019 we started regularly attending and knew we adored this community. Near the beginning of 2020 we spoke with Susannah, our pastor about joining - and it would have happened that Easter morning, April 2020 - but we never dreamed life would change for so long and we were waiting to be together in person. By August that had not happened and so we were the first folks to join via Zoom! (the picture at the top of the page is us on the couch at home following worship on Zoom the night we joined KUCC). We have found so much here - friends, community, family, places to serve, ways to be served, joy, peace, hope and love.

Together we decided that we have so many people surrounding us in love and friendship, that it was the right time to get married. We enthusiastically look forward to all those held dear being with us on such a special day. Our family and our chosen family.