We met during our high school years in Chicago, Illinois. We were both involved on a leadership team for a local nonprofit. It was a faith-based youth center and Brad’s dad was one of the senior leaders/administrators.



The friendship really began to grow when Brad asked Jamaica to write a regular column for a magazine Brad had started. It was the perfect excuse for plenty of late night phone conversations.

We were just friends.



Until one evening, three years after we had first met, at a Bennigans restaurant in Park Ridge, Illinois. We got to talking. But since we had been friends—great friends—for three years, neither of us wanted to risk losing that. Although truth be told, we both knew we couldn’t go on just being great friends forever!



So Brad turned to the salt and pepper shakers to his left. Wanting to speak vicariously through them, I slid the salt shaker across to Jamaica, and nudged the pepper shaker next to me.



It was now just the pepper talking to the salt. If one of them was out in left field or not on the same page, no big deal! It was salt and pepper after all, not Brad and Jamaica.



As time would soon prove, God did have some bigger plans for both of us. Six months later after prayer, counsel, and much talking through, it was time for Brad to make the relationship “official” and be able to move forward as a dating couple seeking the possibility of marriage.



So Brad turned again to the salt and pepper shakers to make his move. Over the course of a week, I would hide shakers in Jamaica’s car, send them through the mail and leave them in strange places. Inside each shaker was a note that had to be put together with the next.

If you’re the salt,
and I’m the pepper,

then I think its time,

you and I get together.



The last note came on December 29, 1999, and I followed it up with a rose and the question:



“So, we’re dating, right?”"

Not the best choice of words, but Brad wasn’t used to speaking without a pepper shaker so I hit rewind and asked again. Jamaica said yes, and we were an official couple that evening. (Neither of us have dated anyone prior to each other.)



Two years later, after Jamaica returned from a study abroad program with YWAM, the marriage topic was getting warmer and warmer. Again, after prayer and counsel, it was time for Brad to ask the question.



So I turned to the shakers.

It happened on a Friday night, February 9, 2001. As we often do, Brad took Jamaica to the beach. At sunset, I took Jamaica down on some rocks and said I had a story to read her. We put our backs to each other and as Jamaica faced the ocean, I began to read. It was a fairy-tale-type story about two people meeting, falling in love, and…



As I was reading and Jamaica was facing the ocean, I pulled out a pair of salt and pepper shakers, each one holding a candle. I lit the candles and kept reading. As I got to the end of the story, Jamaica began to put it together and realized the story was actually about us. It was our story.



“…the boy got down on one knee and said…”

If you’re the salt,

and I’m the pepper,
then I think its time,

you and I get together.

Forever.

As Jamaica turned around, she saw two candles lit, Brad on his knee, and now asking the question. “Jamaica, will you marry me?”

Inside the salt shaker was the engagement ring which I slowly placed on her finger.



We were married six months later on August 11, 2001.