Jalon and I met the summer before our eighth grade year. I can remember the first time we met - I was new to the area and went to see my new school. Jalon was at the school (which was also on the campus of the church where his dad pastored) repainting the gym. He was skinny and tan, wearing his blue Sea Hawks jacket. He says he told his buddy THAT DAY how we was going to marry me. I took a little more convincing.
Not long after that, school started and we attended the same youth group (the same youth group we now pastor by the way). Not too long after THAT Jalon asked me to "go out" with him. (Go out? Seriously? What does that mean anyway? We definitely didn't GO anywhere!) I said yes, and then within the week Jalon wrote me a note breaking up with me... sigh... and for the next many years I would, well, despise him for it!