Our Story

The Beginning (From Melissa's Perspective)

Toby and Derek Tatum (our ushers) introduced us at a college ministry Christmas party at Mt. Paran North Church of God, in 2008. The next semester, I transferred from Kennesaw State University to Georgia Tech and found out that Peter and I were in the same International Ethics class together. I was really happy when Peter asked if he could study with me the Friday before finals. We studied until about midnight in the common area of my dorm room, and the more time I spent with him, the more I wanted to get to know him better.

The next day, we went to a place close to campus called Home Park to study. After a few minutes of going through study cards, a father and his two young daughters came into the park. The dad was teaching his younger daughter to ride a bike, and he and his older daughter were cheering her on as she rode for the first time without training wheels. As we were watching them, Peter said "I can't wait to have kids." I was so happy when he said that, because I wanted kids too. After that priceless time in the park, Peter took me out for the first time to Arby's, and then we went back to the common area of my dorm to study some more. We studied for a few more hours, and after we felt good about acing the final, we started talking and getting to know each other better. We continued talking through the early hours of the morning, and it wasn't until 9 o'clock the next morning that he left to go to his church in Kennesaw while I watched my church's service online. That afternoon, we met again and continued talking, and later that evening Peter asked me if I would like to be his girlfriend. I enthusiastically said yes.

The Promise Ring (From Peter's Perspective)

After meeting Melissa, I can't tell you how much my life was turned upside down and inside out. I have been so blessed by her and from the very beginning I had no shadow of a doubt that there was something very special about Melissa. Now, when the relationship had been cruising along for a bit of time (about a month to be exact), it was very clear that we were headed straight for marriage. For sure we both knew this. Also, we understood the importance of taking things at their proper pace and allowing ourselves time to mature in both our relationship and our individual spiritual lives. To symbolize this I decided to give Melissa a promise ring, something to show her we are moving along and no matter what, I will be by her side.

Melissa's birthday was coming around the corner, which made it the perfect time to present the promise ring to her. I devised a plan with the great help of her sister Amy (the maid of honor). Melissa loves puzzles and we presented her with one that sent her to different places around the house to gather different presents. The last gift, however, was not located at her house, but her dad's office, which was quite far away. Bewildered but intrigued, Melissa soon found out that what was truly at her dad's office was her cat, Oreo, who had been "catnapped". I posed as a secret agent, "Agent V", who was interested in the safe return of Oreo because of her true identity as Vice Catmiral, a high-ranking officer in the IMA (Impressing Melissa Agency). The Vice Catmiral was strapped to a device which if not diffused would explode any second. That device was a box holding her promise ring. When we got there, I went ahead of her having to prepare the ring on the cat and waited for her to come up. When she got there and "diffused the bomb" she was speechless for a few minutes and we both became very emotional. The whole thing was incredible.

To Tango or To Follow (From Peter's perspective)

One thing to mention in this unfolding story is that before I had even met Melissa, I had plans to study abroad in Argentina for the fall semester of 2009. It required of me a small deposit and of course a commitment to attend the Instituto Tecnológico de Buenos Aires (an institute of equal academic prowess as Georgia Tech). Everything was in place. And then the welcomed disruption of these plans came when Melissa took center stage in my life. Well, come June and July, it felt like a huge dark cloud had been forming over our relationship in the fact that we were going to be separate, at least geographically, for over 5 months. Argentina was something that I had accepted as God's will for my life, though God had different plans. I like to think that the looming separation and thoughts of how to mitigate the lack of practical communication that would come with a bi-continental relationship allowed me to better analyze, interpret, rethink, and overall understand what a committed relationship is all about.

So fast-forward to the week that I have to put down a deposit on an apartment in Buenos Aires. I came to the thought that maybe everything isn't set in stone. Maybe I could stay back in Atlanta. But I was struck with the thought that maybe I couldn't get out of the situation without having to pay a great deal of money, which seemed like a big issue back then. That Tuesday (deposit was due that Friday) I fall into a depression and I need Melissa to come pick me up from work because I am not able to do anything without my mind being on this topic. When we got to her parking deck, we prayed together and asked the Holy Spirit to rid me of this depression and to speak to us His wisdom. With that instantaneously I was no longer depressed and I was clear in thought and peace was within me. Later that night while worshipping Him, I prayed to God for an answer to what I was supposed to do. His answer was clear. Stay here. With this word came the most intense peace and assurance I had ever felt in my life. I was so relieved and I found out upon further inspection that only my deposit would have to stand and all other obligations would be removed. I was so thankful and that fall semester was the greatest semester both academically and relationship-wise (with Melissa and God) I had ever had. Praise be to God, for He is good!

The Engagement (from Melissa's perspective)

On October 10, 2009, Peter and I and Amy and her boyfriend, Jacob, were on our way back from the wedding of a friend of mine. The wedding was in Columbus, Georgia, where my family used to live. As I learned later, Peter had talked with my parents beforehand to find a place that would have sentiment and meaning to me. Shortly after the wedding Peter decided to drive and was very adamant about this. We took a detour to a prayer chapel that was not far down the road. This prayer chapel was where God first confirmed to my parents that it was His purpose for us to move there, but I had never seen the chapel. The sun was just beginning to set when Peter pulled into the parking lot, and the chapel was so beautiful in the evening light. It was so peaceful and serene as we went inside; there was relaxing music playing in the background, and scriptures of faith and encouragement were written on the walls. Peter took me to one of the kneeling benches and sat down to pray with me. At the end of his prayer, he said "Lord, please let Melissa answer honestly to the question that I'm about to ask her." I looked up at him, and without saying anything he reached in his pocket and, with hands shaking, he pulled out the ring. Then, he gently looked at me and said "Melissa, will you marry me?" There was only one thing I could say, which was obviously, "yes." And, the rest is history.

Click here for photos taken right after the proposal!

Thank you!

We are so glad that you can be a part of our story. The story is truly just now beginning. What has already happened is just a pre-cursor to the most beautiful and magnificent journey we are sure to have. We know that this journey will include hardship, misunderstandings, shattered egos, and more. But far more importantly, it will also be a time of great joy and an opportunity for us to present ourselves to the world together as a light for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We are thankful for those who will be there throughout the years — both known and unknown — who will support us in prayer, fellowship, friendship, family ties, and more.