Sedona Creek Engagement: James + Leontine

Their love story begins in the summer at a hotel restaurant. He was a bus boy and she was a server. When I asked Eric, James’s best man, what James thought of Leontine at their first encounter he said, “He thought she was beautiful and the word freckles was used a lot.”

For the first hour of knowing each other they both had first impressions. James thought Leontine was “posh” and stuck up. Leontine thought James was a “tool” because he was wearing tight clothes. Later that same day the first day on the job during their 15 minute break they talked and joked about things said in South Africa. Leontine was from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and James had done a mission trip to South Africa one summer. James remembered liking Leontine’s South African accent.

After James met Leontine he friendly “stalked” her on Facebook. He messaged Leontine about training for their new job. The second day they met Leontine had shared her life story with James.

When Leontine had met James she wasn’t interested in marriage but had commented that if she were this guy would be it. They continued their co-workers friendship by taking the light rail together to work. James must had really liked Leontine at this point because he would walk 3 miles to the light rail to ride along with her. James knew before they dated that he had met his future wife. It was on the second or third week of them knowing each other, when James was dropping Leontine after work that he said the three words, eight letters, “I love you.”

While James and Leontine were dating their loved shone through their relationship. During their dating Leontine had given James a gift card and guess how he spent it? He spent the card on Leontine. That is love.

Shortly later while they were dating marriage got brought up. When the subject came up Leontine had said she didn’t see herself getting married. James replied that they should break up. In that moment Leontine started to tear up. Afterwards James got some counsel from some Redemption Tempe pastors. After some patience a miracle happened and she continued to date James.

Three months later Leontine was visiting James’s family in Wisconsin. While Leontine was having a heartfelt conversation with James’s mom she recognized that she was a loving compassionate woman and that James was raised from this woman. With a smile Leontine had remarked that the “mom was the closer.”

James proposed to Leontine on Easter and in July they will be getting married. As your friend, I pray the coming months are full of joy planning the day you both say “I will” at the altar. Thank you for sharing the love story God wrote for you both.