I'm a sucker for love stories. They're my absolute favorite. I love watching a movie or reading a book that's full of laughs and 'knowing' smiles and love and weddings.
But not in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that I would have my own love story to tell. It's not that I never thought I'd fall in love, or that I didn't deserve a good man and a happy life. It's just that I couldn't see how it was going to happen for me. I had just turned 26 when I met Justin. I didn't really like dating and wasn't good at it. I'd never had a boyfriend and never even kissed a guy (not ashamed to admit it :)). I felt like I had a lot going for me, and even felt like I was a pretty good catch in a lot of ways, yet I never seemed able to get past the first date (maybe I never wanted to? who knows).
But then somehow, it happened. Sometimes I'm still not sure how. I met and fell in love with the man of my dreams and by some miracle he loved me back.
So here is my absolute favorite love story broken down into 21 bullet points (because who wants to read the e x t r a l o n g version??)
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2. (October 7) My friend Carli invited both Justin and I, along with some other friends, to a haunted house. Justin was a little disappointed that I wasn't scared enough to hold on to him :). Afterward we went to Leatherby's where we discovered that Justin had been in the same ward as Preston at Belmont. (I think sometimes how weird that would be to look back on. Seeing Justin at church on Sunday and knowing he's your future brother-in-law. Weird.)
3. (December) Justin brought his sister to our ward Christmas party and sat right across the table from me. Unfortunately I was too busy looking at and thinking about another guy to notice him. I barely talked to Justin all night. Another dumb move.
4. (January 2012) Brittany and I had some friends over for dinner on a Sunday night. We planned to have our usual movie night (where we watch mostly period films) after everyone had gone. We invited Justin to stay and watch The Importance of Being Ernest with us. He stayed and watched the whole thing! *Although I'm pretty sure I made no attempt at snuggling or even getting close because I laid on the floor while he was sitting on the couch. Oops.
3. (December) Justin brought his sister to our ward Christmas party and sat right across the table from me. Unfortunately I was too busy looking at and thinking about another guy to notice him. I barely talked to Justin all night. Another dumb move.
4. (January 2012) Brittany and I had some friends over for dinner on a Sunday night. We planned to have our usual movie night (where we watch mostly period films) after everyone had gone. We invited Justin to stay and watch The Importance of Being Ernest with us. He stayed and watched the whole thing! *Although I'm pretty sure I made no attempt at snuggling or even getting close because I laid on the floor while he was sitting on the couch. Oops.
5. (February) I invited Justin over for dinner, but he was in Seattle. Later I strategically asked him to pick me up from the car repair shop.
6. (April) I invited Justin to come to Ogden to watch me play hockey. I was surprised that even after a long day of snowboarding he agreed to come (it was the first big sign to me that he was interested). I scored a hat trick that night. On the way home I had some serious (justified) road rage and may have said out loud, "I'm not being very impressive to Justin right now."
**The next detail is still under further review. There's a small argument about which event is our actual first date haha**
7. (May 3) I called Justin and asked if he wanted to come to my hockey banquet ''as my date.'' He accepted and impressed me by without hesitation asking, "When should I pick you up?" even though it was technically my thing. He even brought cans to donate for the food drive. As Justin dropped me off he asked me out for that coming Saturday night. (He would hereafter be known among my coworkers as "Mr. Saturday Night.")
(May 5) Went to a Real Salt Lake game, then Chili's for dinner. I really liked being with him and the conversation wasn't forced or awkward. I told Brittany afterward that I would definitely go out with him again if he asked.
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| Justin and a bunch of awesome friends came to my first piano recital, May 7, 2012 |
8. (May 28, Memorial Day) - We had a picnic at Sugarhouse Park. We laid on a blanket and talked for hours. I felt so comfortable with him and remember thinking that I could really like this guy. At one point we got up to go for a walk around the park. He reached back and grabbed my hand for the first time. <3
9. (June 2-3) We stayed up all night (literally) sitting on Justin's couch talking. We talked about everything. Justin jokes that I must have drugged him because he completely spilled his guts! When he dropped me off we hugged, then he grabbed my shoulders, pulled me in and kissed me!! I think I smiled for days.
10. (July) I scared Justin to death by taking him to my grandparents cabin where he met my entire family.
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| Crawling through Mammoth Caves |
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| Walking around Panguitch Lake while my brothers, Mallory, and Andy fished |
11. (August) Justin finally told his parents he was dating me. This was a big deal for both of us. I was finally convinced that he was really serious about our relationship.
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| On a hike near Solitude Ski Resort |
12. (September 2) Justin told me he loved me and I melted. So many times I wondered if I would ever hear those words from such a handsome, amazing guy like Justin.
13. (mid-September) We went on our first trip together as a couple to Cedar City for the Shakespearean Festival. We saw Les Miserables and Hamlet which were great, but mostly we just loved being together!
14. We saw each other practically every day since we started dating in May, whether it was at church, FHE, hanging out with friends, or actual planned dates. It's kind of crazy to think about how it all happened. In fact, looking back I'm honestly not sure when or how he went from being the guy I casually met over the fire, to the guy I was nervous to talk to, to the guy I never wanted to say goodbye to at the end of the day.
15. I'm not sure exactly when I knew I loved Justin and wanted to marry him, but there's no question I knew before Justin did :). That was kinda hard. By December I was definitely hoping he felt the same way about me.
16. (December 2012) Justin surprised me and flew to Las Vegas for New Years. It was so fun having him there! I will admit though that this was the first time I kind of sort of hoped that maybe he'd propose, although I don't know why because we hadn't even talked about it.
17. (February 2013) Justin's parents took us to Hawaii!! It was great to get to know them better and spend time in such a beautiful place. Justin bought me a beautiful diamond heart necklace while we were there (probably to satisfy me while I was itching for him to propose, but I'm not complaining:)).
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18. (May 22) We went to Las Vegas to spend time with my family as well as his parents who were there for a work conference. We had been talking about marriage, had been ring shopping, and even went to look at a reception venue. But one night, after a frustrating conversation with my parents, I called Justin crying and asked if he was ever going to propose to me. He asked me to just be a little patient. Oh boy, did he ever know that I had been patient?! At least, that's all the patience I could muster :)
19. (May 23) We flew to Seattle and that evening Justin took me to Snoqualmie Falls. There, he got down on one knee and asked me the bravest question. The question I'd been hoping and praying for months that he'd ask me. He asked me to be his. I of course said yes and told him I'd never wanted anything more in my whole life! He gave me his great grandmother's ring. It was beautiful and perfect.
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20. (August 10) On a perfect sunny day, we were married for time and all eternity in the Las Vegas Temple. It was and always will be the happiest day of my life.
21. We spent our 8 day honeymoon in Cancun and it was magical. I kept trying to capture every moment in my mind. I never wanted it to end! But that's the great thing about being married to your best friend...
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| BYU football game, Sept 2012 (where I met Justin's mom) |
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| BYU blackout game, October 2012 |
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| MoTab Christmas Concert with Alfie Boe (went with Uncle Robert and Aunt Susie), December 2012 |
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| BYU vs St. Mary's, Jan 2013 |
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| Snowshoeing with Mel and Shelby, Jan 2013 |
16. (December 2012) Justin surprised me and flew to Las Vegas for New Years. It was so fun having him there! I will admit though that this was the first time I kind of sort of hoped that maybe he'd propose, although I don't know why because we hadn't even talked about it.
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| In front of the Gold and Silver Pawn Shop - Justin loves Pawn Stars |
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| Las Vegas, Dec 2012 - Don't let my dad see this picture!! |
18. (May 22) We went to Las Vegas to spend time with my family as well as his parents who were there for a work conference. We had been talking about marriage, had been ring shopping, and even went to look at a reception venue. But one night, after a frustrating conversation with my parents, I called Justin crying and asked if he was ever going to propose to me. He asked me to just be a little patient. Oh boy, did he ever know that I had been patient?! At least, that's all the patience I could muster :)
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| Melissa O'Connor's wedding, May 2013 |
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| Safeco Field, May 2013 |
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| A complete stranger happened to be nearby and took these amazing photos of the proposal and sent them to us!! |
20. (August 10) On a perfect sunny day, we were married for time and all eternity in the Las Vegas Temple. It was and always will be the happiest day of my life.
21. We spent our 8 day honeymoon in Cancun and it was magical. I kept trying to capture every moment in my mind. I never wanted it to end! But that's the great thing about being married to your best friend...
...it never has to end.
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