June 16, 2000, is when everything changed.
I’d just finished my sophomore year of college and was one of four summer interns working in the missions department at my home church. The other interns were Kay Bridgwater, whom I’d grown up with, and Jerrell Altic, a college student from Missouri. Kay and Jerrell had met the previous summer as missions interns and by the end of it they were in l-o-v-e. The fourth intern was going to be another guy from Missouri named Curt Jones. Everyone already knew him well but I’d never met him. Strangely, our two bosses, William and Bob, seemed to think This Curt Jones Guy and I were going to hit it off and get married.
Seriously? For once I was hoping not to be distracted by a boy. I didn’t really want to hear about my supposed future with some guy from Missouri named Curt Jones. At the same time, Curt Jones was having to hear about some chick named Amanda Moore down in Houston and he didn’t really want to hear it either.
The week of June 16, 2000, we were in Missouri helping lead an event called Mission Vision. Mission Vision consisted of a handful of youth groups and leaders staying in Hamlin Baptist Church. We did missions training and various projects during the day and at night we had speakers, a drama group called Clear Vision, and worship with By the Tree.
After Mission Vision, This Curt Jones Guy was going to come back to Houston with us and work for the rest of the summer. I hoped that at least he’d be cool and we’d get along well.
I should mention that I didn’t even want to go to Mission Vision. I can’t remember how I justified to my boss, William Taylor, that I would need to come home early. He conceded and I had a plane ticket to get me home in the middle of the week. I was such a good intern! Bless my heart, we were only a week into the job and I’d not yet realized how much dying to self ministry requires. I’m definitely not done learning that lesson.
Back to June 16, 2000.
Mission Vision hadn’t yet started. Jerrell, Kay and I drove over to the home of This Curt Jones Guy to pick him up and go to a water park in Branson for the day. Curtis got in Jerrell’s Chevy Blazer and had his cap so low over his face that I couldn’t even tell what he looked like. Of course I was trying to figure that out. Even though I was trying not to go there, I remember reasoning that if our bosses’ predictions turned out to be right, I would always remember meeting him there in the driveway. But surely they were wrong.
We had a great time at Whitewater with no shortage of awkward moments. Really, who wants to be in a bathing suit the first time they meet a new co-worker? At one point we were waiting to get our tubes to take up to the top of a water slide. I was first in line and the next tube that came was a double. If I took it, then I’d have to get in it with This Curt Jones Guy I barely knew. No thank you. I let it pass and took a single. Awkward! Jerrell, of course, called attention to the weird moment and I’ve never lived it down.
I couldn’t tell what Curt’s personality was like until the four of us had a little brainstorming session while sitting in front of the wave pool on some lounge chairs. Curt was in charge of student recreation at Mission Vision and we were helping him think of a theme. Here’s what we came up with in our 20-year-old humor and brilliance – The Toilet Bowl: Like the Super Bowl, but Different! Nice, right? The daily rec prizes were a plunger, a toilet paper roll, a toilet seat, and a bed pan. We spray painted everything gold. And that is how I bonded with my future husband.
That night – June 16, 2000 – found the four of us praying in Jerrell’s parents’ living room. We prayed for Mission Vision and for our summer serving together. I got a peek into the heart of This Curt Jones Guy as he prayed for God to be exalted.
The recreation ministry required many, many trips to Walmart and Curtis always invited me to ride along with him. I’ve never been a big fan of Walmart, but I have a lot of affection for this one particular store where I happened to fall in love with my husband. We’ve never really had a song, but we do have “our Walmart.”
I remember seeing Curt’s sweet Grandma Dixon for the first time. She was serving food to all the students and I thought she and Curtis looked alike. Curt’s younger sister, Lindsay, was attending Mission Vision as a high school student. We shared a mirror one morning in the bathroom and I wondered if I would be getting to know her soon.
It was only by God’s grace and sovereignty that I ever got the job as a missions intern. Unfortunately, I’d skipped out on the youth group experience in high school and had never been on a mission trip. We were training kids how to share their faith and I had no idea how to share mine! Every day we took a group of kids to a different setting to share their faith. Curtis took it upon himself to be my partner and teach me how to do this. I’m naturally a pretty shy person and witnessing to someone I didn’t know was way, way, way outside my comfort zone. But Curtis was amazing at it. I was blown away watching him turn countless conversations with strangers toward Christ.
Not only was This Curt Jones Guy funny, not only was he great at leading rec time, not only did he have beautiful blue eyes that both of my children now have, he was passionate about leading people to Christ. I liked this guy! Curtis and I have a deep sense of partnership in ministry and there’s no doubt in my mind that it’s because of those times we went out and shared our faith together.
Needless to say, I decided to cancel my mid-week trip home.
On the last full day of Mission Vision, we went to do some evangelism on Commercial Street. I really liked This Curt Jones Guy but I didn’t know if we would be more than friends. Another leader even asked me if we liked each other and I denied it. A few minutes later Curtis and I went into a soda fountain type of place and sat down at the counter. We ordered Dr. Peppers and hoped to share the Gospel with the server. The first thing out of the server’s mouth was, “Are you two married?” It was becoming clear that God was growing our hearts together. That night we finally admitted to each other what had been obvious to everyone else.
The day after Mission Vision wrapped up, I was supposed to fly home with Kay and Jerrell and Curtis was going to drive his car down to Houston. I decided to cancel my flight – again – and make the drive with Curtis. We had twelve hours to talk about everything under the sun. Every time we make that drive from Springfield to Houston, we point out all the places we stopped on our first trip. A lot of times we play the old Shane and Shane and Enter the Worship Circle CD’s we listened to. I had no idea how familiar I would become with those small towns along the road in Oklahoma. There are some very creatively named churches along the way, which inspired a game called “What would you name a church?” When we stopped to get gas in Huntsville, Texas, I called Mom and said that This Curt Jones Guy and I would be home soon and to please make Dad behave. They instantly knew.
Next week we get to celebrate our eighth wedding anniversary and our tenth year of being together. There’s something so great about knowing we’ve been together for a decade. I love it. It feels like something to celebrate.
A few years ago my engagement ring cracked where I’d had it re-sized. I had it repaired but it was wearing very thin again. While we were in Missouri I took my engagement ring to the jeweler it was purchased from and had them make me a new white gold tiffany setting. I handed over my ring and watched the jeweler pry open the prongs and dump out the diamond. It had an unbelievable amount of gunk underneath it. If nothing else, it would look a hundred times better just from the stone being cleaned! They handed the old ring back to me empty. I waited in anticipation for five days and finally, on our way home from Silver Dollar City in Branson, I got to pick up my diamond in a brand new band. It was beautiful! My round solitaire looked so happy and shiny. It had been a long time since it looked like that. I sort of wished I’d made this investment sooner. If Curtis had given me a brand new diamond three times as big as that one it would not have thrilled me as much as seeing that same one looking just as pretty as the day he gave it to me. Prettier, really, since it represented everything that we have been through and done together.
Our marriages are somewhat like my engagement ring. The core – the diamond – holds a great love story with lots of passion and commitment. But everyday wear and tear and the occasional traumatic event can do a number on the metal that holds it together. Some of our rings could just use some polishing while others need some real restoration. God can do both! Remember that He loves marriage. He created it, after all. I’m praying that God will show each one of us a specific way we can invest in our marriage to strengthen it and bring out its beauty.
Congratulations…10 years and 2 beautiful children. God has certainly blessed your family and your family has in turn blessed so many others. I’m sure there are many young women who look to you as a walking testimony of God providing the best. May the next decade be filled with wonder and road trips and joy!
You have no idea what this meant to me this morning. I needed it and God wrote it through you for me. Thank you and God bless.
What a great story…we are celebrating our 16th anniversary here on the 15th of June. I can hardly believe its been that long. I love a great “get together” stroy. Your first long car ride reminded me of the movie When Harry Met Sally. Thanks for sharing and Happy, Happy anniversary!
Amanda,
that is beautiful. And I think you have picked up your husband’s knack for “turning any conversation towards Christ”
I like the challenge to find one way to invest in and strengthen my marriage. I’ll have to give that some thought today.
Deirdre
What a beautiful story Amanda. God so ordained it that way and He’s pleased with your commitment to each other.
Happy Anniversary!!!
Myriam
I really enjoyed reading this blog. I have been married for 15 years. When I met my husband we were not believers in Christ so my marriage was very hard. About 9 years in our marriage and at least 1 separation I became a true believer. And I thought our marriage would improve but it actually got worse. My husband is an alcoholic and he became abusive. We separated and I really thought our marriage was over but God had other plans for us. During that separation God was working on my husbands help. With God’s help he has been somber for 5 years now. When we hit our 10 year we renewed our marriage vows before God and our new church family. God is so amazing. He took our broken lives and marriage and repaired them both.
Thanks Amanda. What a sweet walk down memory lane. I’ve been married a little over 11 years and have 3 children ages, 4,3 and 16 mo. Kids, as you know, can make things harder at times b/c life quickly becomes all about them and less about romance. Your post encouraged me. Thank you.
Amanda…thanks for sharing your love story and Happy Anniversary. It’s amazing how God does weave the one into our lives that we are meant to grow old together with.
Next year will be my 20th and as I look back on the bumps in the road we have had…I can say with a certainty that I would NOT want to spend a day not being Mrs. Jim Harned.
Valerie
Louisville, KY
Thanks for sharing your story, Amanda. May it grow sweeter as the years go by. I loved that you called to have your Dad reined in.
And I thought of your “new” ring last night when my Mom told me that she had my Dad’s wedding ring sized down for her to wear next to her wedding rings. Dad has been gone over a year, but she still gains comfort from wearing his ring. It truly is an example of love growing sweeter.
Terri
That was so much fun to read! And the last paragraph nailed it! My husband and I have been married 20 years so I can attest to what you say is true.
Many times all it takes is sweet reflection on when we first met to make me fall in love all over again. <3
Thanks for sharing such a sweet memory Amanda. This really encouraged me. I think my favorite part was when you two sat down and the server asked if you were married and then it was like you both “just knew” and after that things progressed into God’s perfect plan for you and Curtis . He is faithful. My marriage has suffered greatly over the last year. We have 3 kids ages 4,3 and 16 mo. which adds to the strain. But I am blessed w/ a man that loves the Lord and will look at his own baggage that he’s brought in to our marriage, just as much as I do. Thankfully we have a supportive church family and encouraging blog posts like yours to help us “press on toward the prize!”. Thanks for posting such a personal memory.
Such a sweet post Amanda! You are right about the sybolism of the engagement ring. I have never thought of it that way. God bless your marriage and your family!
Happy Anniversary 🙂 The next 10 will be even better.
Congrats on your love story and your 10 years together. My husband and I will celebrate 10 years together and 5 married at the end of June. I agree…a decade is a beautiful thing. It’s not been roses, but I’m so excited to see what else God has planned for us and how God will bring us through both the peaks and the valleys. Praise the Lord for our perfectly arranged companions. Blessings on the next 10!
Thanks for sharing your beautiful love story. My husband and I met while working as youth counselors at a Christian camp 12 years ago. We’re about to celebrate our 10 year anniversary and you summed it out beautifully! Thanks for sharing your heart with us.
beautiful account…thanks for sharing. and, happy anniversary!
Beautiful story, Amanda! Thanks so much for sharing! I can no longer wear my original rings because of unaffordable repair work that needs to be done, but I know what you mean about the stone. It is still pretty and immediately takes me back to that special time in our lives. After 35 years of marriage, I am still learning to be a helper and cheerleader to my dear hubby. I have failed in many ways, but trust the Lord to give us many more years together to serve and minister to one another! Life is a journey and so is marriage! I am thankful for the sweet hubby that has journeyed with me! Happy Anniversary, dear Amanda and Curt, and many more!!
This story made me smile real big 🙂 So cool to see how God was in the middle of this with our silly human minds.
I kind of feel that I’m in the middle of something like this right now with a guy and I’m just praying that God keeps me focused on Him instead of him. We met on Memorial Day and had a nice long conversation out on a friend’s porch while people were just milling about and one of my guy friends told one of my girl friends that we were going to like each other by the end of the week. And he has one of the biggest hearts for God I’ve ever seen from a guy. Hmmm…
We’ll see what God has in store! 🙂 Thanks for sharing Amanda and happy early anniversary! 😀
Oh, Amanda, what an encouraging post. And what a good analogy!
Your history of falling in love in Springfield MO made this Show-Me-Stater feel a little homesick. That’s where I was born and raised, although the Lord has led me and my family away in recent years. (we even went to Branson for our honeymoon!).
But what struck me most (and I’m sure it wasn’t what you intended to get across!! The Holy Spirit just highlighted it for me!) was your comment: ” Bless my heart, we were only a week into the job and I’d not yet realized how much dying to self ministry requires. I’m definitely not done learning that lesson.”
You just put the struggle of my heart right into words.
Thank you! I so needed to hear that!
Amanda,
Thanks for sharing that beautiful love story. Makes me think of my need to work toward a shinier self in my marriage!
Rachelle
Thank you so much Amanda for sharing these special memories with us. We will be married 21 yrs. in a few weeks and it was so sweet of you to give us a “poke” and wake us up to what God has called us to do and be. I definitely needed it! 10 years is surely something to celebrate – enjoy your time with this special man. I am realizing what my Mama used to tell me, the older you get, the faster it goes, never more true than when you are enjoying the journey.
Happy Wedding Anniversary to you Amanda and Curtis! I loved your story so very much. You remembered so many details that made it extra sweet.
Our love story began as I first laid eyes on my future husband when my family walked into a church and he was leading worship. It was the summer before our Senior year in High school…I “assumed” he was married because he had such an important job and all, but of course, he was only 17! He told me his thoughts were “it’s about time we got got some girls in this church!” when he saw our family walk in with 4 daughters.
Since we met so young, our courtship and engagement was LONG LONG LONG as he finished school. All our dates were either revivals or church meetings or youth events…come to think of it, not much has changed on that account!
We celebrate our 33rd anniversary this Friday, June 11th, and I am so very thankful to God for my sweet husband. We are now Gran Jan and Pop!
May God bless you with many more years of marriage and ministry together.
Love,
Mrs. Jan
Happy Anniversary, Mrs Jan! 33yrs? What a fabulous example you are setting for all those yunguns’. Many Blessings!
Kathy B
WOW!
Happy Anniversary Amanda & Curtis! What a sweet love story!!!! Thank you so much for sharing and for your very wise comment at the end!!
lovingly, Barb
Thanks for posting the encouragement Amanda,:) It reminds me to keep on wating for the one that God has for me…
~Jen
What a beautiful post! June 20 my husband & I will be celebrating our 40TH wedding anniversary. We’ve had our share of ups and downs, but he is still the love of my life. . .and I thank God for him every day.
Awesome story and awesome comparison. Marriage is that way.
Sherrie Watson
What a sweet story, thanks for sharing and congratulations on your upcoming anniversary. I just finished reading a Francine Rivers book (“And the Shofar Blew”) and always enjoy a good love story!
What a sweet story! I hope you guys have a great anniversary.
What a great story Amanda. You are a great storyteller. I’m not married, yet your illustration with the wedding ring holds true about life in general. The jewel being the salvation God gives us so freely, and the gunk under it is what we sometimes do with life. When we are forgiven God’s brilliance shines through again.
Happy anniversary a little early.
Jan
Amanda–
This is one of my favorite posts ever! It seems Satan is out to attack marriages in full force, especially among Christians. I really loved reading the last paragraph.
I graduated from Southwest Baptist University and LOVE the Springfield/Branson area. Silver Dollar City is one of my favorite places to go.
A fun story to hear. Glad to hear you bonded at Wal-Mart, SDC and White Water. Next time you are here we’ll have to “bond”. Oh by the way, the first time I ever saw Kathy Trocolli was at White Water.
Thanks for sharing your story Amanda. My husband and I actually met while working at McDonalds together in high school. We liked each other right away but it would be a few years before we would reunite again at a local college. Now we have been married for just over 11 years. I can’t say it’s all been GREAT but God has been showing His love and mercy through our relationship. Marriage was definitely HIS design and I can’t imagine going through life with anyone other than the one HE brought me. God has certainly been showing me lately how I need to change to be a better wife and to minister and love my dear husband. Hopefully after this many years I can finally begin to “get it”. 🙂
By the way….did they still have Dinky’s when you guys were in Branson? My mom used to live down there and it was the greatest little dive on the side of the road on the way to Silver Dollar City that sold TINY hamburgers and tacos. I loved that place!!
So sweet and beautiful! Thank you so much for sharing this today. My husband and I will be celebrating 32 years of marriage in November and within the next 3 months God is giving us a new setting for the next season of our marriage. We will be moving to another State, unknown at this time, as he will be transferring with his company. Looking forward to what God has in store for us and the beauty He will bring out wherever He places us. Happy Anniversary to you and your Curt Jones Guy.
Thanks for sharing, Amanda. Well, it seem that Curtis Jones Guy turned out to be a pretty good fella! Congratulations on your anniversary.
I remember my husband and I sang at a wedding of a girl who had been in our youth group. We had been married 10 years and I overheard Jeff tell the groom, “You won’t believe it now,but in 10 years you will love her more than you do even today!”
God bless our men folk!
Pat from Kansas
That is a great story of how God always knows, way before we do, what we really need. I loved your story, thanks for sharing. Investing in our marriage is definitely something we as Christians need to remember every day. In God’s Love, sheila
Cute, cute, cute!
Your store gave me chills, watery eyes and a smile, thanks for sharing!
You have your mama’s gift with words 🙂
Happy Anniversary coming up! And thanks Amanda. God knew I needed to read this this morning. I too have been married just over 8 years to a wonderful man, but due to lots of outside stuff: stepkids moving to our town, the threat of grasshoppers on our crops, a hired man who quit right in the busy season–stuff like that–we have been struggling a bit these last few months. We’ve had some “gunk” building up, and it’s probably time to do a little polishing to uncover what a blessing our marriage really is, even with all the distractions. Thanks for the refocus!
P.S. We started our summer Bible Study at church last night… we showed the video on a big projector screen and from my vantage point on the extreme side angle, Beth looked about 6 and a half feet tall and about 2 inches wide. It was pretty funny! Had 40 some ladies show and 50 some who will be coming when their schedules all work out… looking forward to “Breaking Free”!
Loved your story!! My husband and I will be celebrating 8 years on June 14th….total God-thing through & through! Have an awesome day!!
Thank you for your story Amanda. I am a single gal and question daily about searching for a guy on one of those online sites. Then I hear a wonderful story like yours and how God brought you and Curtis together. And in an instant my faith is restored and I am able to be patient and wait on the Lord and his timing.
Congrats on the anniversary and best wishes for the future!
Thank you for this beautiful post. I needed it today. God ministered to me yesterday through chapter 17 in So Long Insecurity (chapter 17) and today through this post. I thank God for the Moore family and the transparency you all display. Thank you for being real with us. I pray God continues to use and bless you all richly. May your marriage see many, many more joyful anniversaries! So far my husband and I have been blessed to be together 5.5 years and married 4. I look forward to celebrating many, many more anniversaries with this amazing man who God has blessed me with (we also met doing ministry together–youth ministry that we still do together! And I also didn’t want to be distracted…and denied that I liked him much longer then you–took me over a year, him only a few days, I’m glad he’s patient =). Thanks for all you do in service to our King!
What a great story!! God is so awesome and He really knows what we need! Thanks for sharing!
Amanda, I loved your love story! My husband and I will celebrate 32 years tomorrow (June 10th). We met June 10, 1977 and married June 10, 1978. Your comparison of the wedding ring to marriage is so true. This ring has seen it all in the last 32 years and I wouldn’t trade it in for anything. Enjoy your man and I pray you have many more years together.
Amanda, This is beautiful. I was brought to tears reading it! I have been nearly panicked (not an understatement) about an upcoming trip with my husband — so far away and definitely out of my comfort zone and being away from the kids that long — ugh… I feel like I’ve been stressed ever since the trip was planned, and I can’t even envision life after it that I can actually make it through this. Your post was such an encouragement to invest in marriage, even when it’s something scary like this and a good word for me today! Thank you!! I don’t want to be so fearful, and I have to keep confessing it and asking God to help me trust Him more. BTW, I feel like I know you just through Melissa. She is amazing, as you all are. Blessings in your ministry.
BEAUTIFUL. Our God is so romantic…He writes the BEST love stories!!!
Thanks so much for writing this! I really needed to hear this! My husband and I got married almost 3 years ago in a courthouse and at the time my husband did not believe in God. Now, he does and we have both come a long way since. I have a much stronger relationship with God and so does he… we have an 8 month old son and we have decided to renew our vows and have a wedding type ceremony since we did not get to have one. Very small budget, but we have always dreamed of my dad walking me down the aisle and getting married in God’s house and now that he believes in God, we just think that it will bring a different aspect to our marriage. But, some members of our family are not so supportive of this, for whatever reason and it has been wearing on me, making me second-guess this decision. I have been praying about it and what you said in this post is so true. We need to do this because God is for marriage and it is such a glorious thing! Take care and I am so happy for yall!
Hello! Thank you so much for sharing your story. This has been a real encouragement. We have been married for 13 years and this has been a tough year. My husband is exhausted and struggling. I’ve responded by being my typical insecure self. But God’s timing is so perfect. He has taken me through Breaking Free and the Insecurity simulcast. Needless to say He has been teaching me so much about love and finding my life in Him. I’ve posted prayer requests for my husband on the living proof website and also K-love and my friends/family continue to pray for my husband. God is good.
What a wonderful love story. I love your writing, and the great analogy with the wedding ring and marriage. Happy Anniversary! Celebrate big!!
Thank you for sharing this story. My husband and I have been married just a little over 1 year and look forward to every memory God allows us to make together. We have seen the every day wear and tear that needs polishing and quickly learned to go to God first before blowing up at each other. With Christ the center of our marriage, restoration is daily to represent Christ and the church.