Day 30 of the Kissing Project…a first kiss on Valentine’s Day
Meet James and Melissa Hoekzema. These two have been involved in our lives for the past several years and we have watched not only their relationship grow, but also their family! When we first met these two, they were a young, newly married couple excited about the future. Add a few years and they now have two lovely girls, Abby – 4 1/2 and Ella – 22 months. These two keep them both busy to say the least! James is a landscaper by trade and has been for several years. Melissa is a stay at home wife and mother who has become quite the amateur photographer. Her photos of her children adorn their home and look fantastic. They both continue to surprise us with their gentle spirits and willingness to serve others. They were kind enough to help us move into our current home just over 4 years ago (we borrowed their truck and trailer).
How did you two meet? Melissa: “We met at Calvary Church’s singles class. I had been going for a few years when HE finally showed up!”
James: “I had been going to Calvary for a while and decided that it would be better to meet people through the singles group rather than by going out to the bar, so I figured I would give it a try. I met her on the first Sunday I attended.”
What was your first date? Melissa: “When we first met it was October but our first date wasn’t until the following January. We had gone to several social events with larger groups, but our first ‘official date’ was to The Honey Creek Inn in Cannonsburg. I was head over heels for him and he told me later that knowing that slightly scared him because he knew how serious I was about dating him. He picked me up, we had dinner and we kept it very low key.”
What was your favorite Valentine’s Day memory? Melissa: “My favorite memory has to be our first one together. James called me early in the day and said I’ll pick you up around 7pm. I asked what I should wear and where we were going. He said it didn’t matter what I wore and where he took me would be a surprise. Well he called back later in the day saying, ‘I’ll pick you up at 6pm and now you have to wear something very nice.’ I was freaking out wondering where in the world we were going. We ended up going to dinner with his parents at Blythefield Country Club! I was a little nervous before he picked me up, but once I knew who we’d be with, I was even worse! It went well though and that night, when he dropped me off at home, he kissed me for the first time.”
Tiberius Images is a Grand Rapids wedding photographer that photographs people, places and events. Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, they serve clients throughout the world and are available for travel.
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