story time

(Amanda and Tad at Christmas Banquet 2007)

Amanda was in her senior year at Taylor University Fort Wayne and Tad was an incoming freshman when they met for the first time.

Thanks to a residence hall fire and the consequential relocation of the university's upperclassmen men, Tad was able to befriend a large number of older males. Males who would take him in as their freshman friend. Males who would invite him along to Buffalo Wild Wings to sample the Blazin' sauce. Males who would spend hours playing Risk, Starcraft and Axis and Allies with him.Males with whom Amanda was already friends.

While this was happening, Amanda was beginning production on Taylor Theatre Organization's fall play. The theatre, of which she was Director, was entirely student run and required hundreds of hours of volunteer work for each play to be realized. Tad was one such volunteer.

It was inevitable their paths would cross.

On a day like any other Amanda stopped at a table in the dining commons to socialize with her friend, Joshua B. Hornbarger. Perhaps her plan was to make small talk. Perhaps she simply wanted to go over plans for the season's play, Charlie's Aunt. Whatever her reasoning, she instead was introduced to Tad.

Joshua, noticing the initial chemistry, was able to engage the two in a Game Boy strategy game. It was during that fateful game that Tad realized he had found the woman of his dreams. Amanda, on the other hand, thought nothing more of the encounter than as the blossoming of a friendship. It was, however, illogical to fall for a freshman. Regardless, the two made plans to hang out that weekend, exchanging phone numbers and possible activity ideas.

Over the next weeks and months, Tad pursued the relationship with gifts disguised as friendly offerings, dates disguised as friendly outings, and attention disguised as friendly interest. In January of 2006, Amanda admitted defeat. She too had found the man of her dreams and couldn't have been more happy.

Tad and Amanda have been together since. April 18th will simultaneously mark the end of three and one-quarter years of relational bliss and a lifetime of marital happiness.